India women’s captain Smriti Mandhana gets new role at UNICEF, says ‘every child deserves to dream big’

UNICEF India on Sunday named Indian women’s cricket captain Smriti Mandhan as its celebrity advocate on the occasion of the International Day of the Girl Child.Through this role, she will promote equal opportunities for girls and support efforts to improve their health, well-being, education and leadership.“I am deeply honored to join UNICEF India as a celebrity advocate. Growing up playing cricket has taught me that every dream starts with an opportunity. With hard work, determination and encouragement, that opportunity can turn into something extraordinary. Every child and young person deserves the chance to dream big and reach their full potential,” said Mandhana.

Focus on girls’ rights and opportunities

Mandhana has previously supported UNICEF-ICC campaigns promoting gender equality and life skills, along with the UNICEF Promise to Children campaign. As a celebrity advocate, she will continue to work to ensure that girls have the freedom and support to learn, play and achieve their ambitions.“Smriti’s journey from an aspiring young athlete to a global cricket icon shows girls what is possible when talent meets opportunity. At a time when India is home to the world’s largest generation of children and young people, investing in girls’ rights, leadership and well-being is the smartest investment in the country. We look forward to partnering with Smriti to ensure that every girl has the opportunity to learn to play, her representative and UNIC’s representative.” Cynthia McCaffrey.

Mandhana’s achievements in cricket

Arjuna awardee Mandhana was appointed as the captain of the Indian women’s cricket team earlier this week after Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down. She was also part of the team that won the first ever ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in India in 2025.In the same year, Mandhana became the first woman to score more than 1,000 ODI runs in a calendar year, setting a record with five centuries. In 2026, she became the top run-scorer in women’s international cricket and women’s T20.She is also the world’s highest-ranked women’s ODI batsman and a two-time ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year.