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UNICEF India on Sunday announced the appointment of international cricketer Smriti Mandhana to join the ranks of the UN Child Rights Agencys Celebrity Advocate.
In the new role, Mandhana is set to build on her earlier work to champion equal rights and opportunities for children and young people. The appointment, announced on the International Day of the Girl Child on 11 October, spotlights girls rights, protection, potential and leadership, and the barriers that still limit their choices worldwide, according to a release. A sporting icon and role model for young women and girls across India, Mandhana will champion equal opportunities for girls to play and thrive. She will support UNICEF Indias work to advance adolescent girls empowerment, health and well-being, for girls to reach her full potential. Mandhana said, I am honoured to join UNICEF India as its Celebrity Advocate. Playing cricket as a child taught me that every dream begins with an opportunity. With hard work, determination and encouragement, that opportunity can become something extraordinary. Every child and young person deserves the chance to dream big and reach their full potential. An Arjuna Awardee and one of Indias leading sportspersons, Mandhana is the Captain of the Indian womens cricket team. She was part of the team that won India the first ICC Womens Cricket World Cup title in 2025. That year, she became the first woman to score more than 1,000 One Day International (ODI) runs in a calendar year, setting a record with five ODI centuries. In 2026, she became the leading run-scorer in womens international cricket and womens T20 internationals. She is the worlds top-ranked womens ODI batter and a two-time ICC Womens Cricketer of the Year. We are delighted to welcome Smriti Mandhana as UNICEF Indias Celebrity Advocate on the International Day of the Girl Child. Smritis journey from aspiring young athlete to global cricket icon shows girls what is possible when talent is met with opportunity. At a time when India is home to the worlds largest generation of children and young people, investing in girls rights, leadership and well-being is one of the smartest investments a country can make. We look forward to partnering with Smriti to support every girl to have the chance to learn, play, lead and fulfil her potential, said Cynthia McCaffrey, Representative, UNICEF India. Mandhana has previously supported UNICEF-ICC campaigns on gender equality and life skills, as well as UNICEFs Promise to Children campaign. India has 253 million adolescentsone-fifth of its population and 21 per cent of the global adolescent population. India has expanded access to education, health and protection services, but challenges persist. Children in disadvantaged urban and rural communities continue to face poverty and limited access to quality services. Adolescent girls face multiple vulnerabilities that restrict decisions about work, education, marriage and social relationships. UNICEF works with governments, communities, civil society and young people to advance adolescent girls rights, agency and opportunities; equipping girls with knowledge, life skills, leadership opportunities and safe spaces to make informed choices about education, health, well-being and their futures. Together with partners, UNICEF also works with families and communities to challenge harmful gender norms, strengthen support systems, keep girls in education, expand social protection and connect them to skills and livelihood pathwaysbuilding their confidence and choices to learn, lead, thrive and delay marriage. (ANI)
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