Smriti Mandhana named celebrity advocate by UNICEF India

Smriti Mandhana, the India cricket team captain, was officially announced as a celebrity advocate by UNICEF India on Sunday, the International Day of the Girl. The United Nations Children's Fund aims to highlight the rights, safety, leadership and potential of girls, while also addressing the challenges that limit their choices.

Mandhana expressed her deep honor in joining UNICEF India, emphasizing that every child and young person should have the opportunity to dream and achieve their full potential. In her new role, she will focus on supporting UNICEF's initiatives to empower adolescent girls, improve their health and well-being, and provide them with opportunities to learn, play and lead.

UNICEF India welcomed Mandhana to their family, acknowledging her inspiring presence on the cricket field and her potential to become a powerful voice for children's rights off the field. Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who serves as UNICEF's Regional Ambassador for South Asia and a long-term partner, also expressed his support for Mandhana's appointment, praising her as a brilliant voice for children's rights.

Mandhana took over the captaincy from Harmanpreet Kaur, who stepped down from the role after leading India to the 2025 ODI World Cup title. Harmanpreet announced her decision to relinquish the captaincy across formats following a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) review meeting in Guwahati, which evaluated the team's performance, including their elimination from the T20 World Cup before the semifinals.

Mandhana, who has been a part of the Indian team since 2013, will now serve as the full-time white-ball captain, leading India in 18 T20Is and four ODIs. At the 2025 World Cup, she was the second-highest run-scorer with 434 runs and became the first Indian woman to score international hundreds in all three formats, including a T20I century against England in June 2025.