Cricketer Smriti Mandhana Becomes UNICEF India Advocate as She Takes Over National Team Captaincy

India cricket star Smriti Mandhana has been named a celebrity advocate by UNICEF India on the International Day of the Girl. The global day focuses on girls' rights, safety, leadership, and potential, while pointing out the barriers that still limit their choices.

New Role

Mandhana said she is deeply honoured to join UNICEF India and recalled how growing up playing cricket taught her that every dream starts with an opportunity. In her new position, she will support UNICEF India's work to empower teenage girls, boost their health, and help them get access to chances for learning, playing, and leading. Cricket legend and UNICEF Regional Ambassador for South Asia Sachin Tendulkar welcomed her to the family on social media, writing that she inspires millions on the field and will be a strong voice for children's rights off it.

Captaincy Change

The announcement follows Mandhana's appointment as India's full-time white-ball captain after Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down from the role across all formats. Harmanpreet led India to the 2025 ODI World Cup title but decided to relinquish the leadership following a BCCI review meeting in Guwahati that looked at recent team performances, including an early exit from the T20 World Cup before the semifinals. Mandhana, who previously served as the deputy captain, has played for the national side since 2013 and has already led India in 18 T20 matches and four ODIs. The 29-year-old scored 434 runs at the 2025 World Cup as the second-highest run-scorer and made history in June 2025 by becoming the first Indian woman to score international centuries across all three formats during a match against England.

Context

Sports personalities often take on advocacy roles with international organisations like UNICEF to use their public platform for social causes. Major cricket transitions in India are typically evaluated by the cricket board following major tournament cycles.