Children, young people, women and men are cheering amid an ecstatic crowd. All eyes are on the Women’s World Cup cricket that has claimed the centre stage. The energy inside the stadium is electric. The finalists - India and South Africa have played their best — turning the field alive with grit, grace, and glory. As the girl players lift the trophy at the ICC World Cup Finals 2025 at Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium, the cheers echo far beyond the boundary line.
Social media reels are buzzing with girls deft in catching balls, batting, and hitting the ground to save a wicket. Uplifting music adds to the energy. Discussions on TV and social media have shifted to one of awe and appreciation: ”Girls can do it – and they are showing it on the field – when given the opportunity," says the RJ cricket commentator on his social media radio reel.
This victory on the field isn’t just about cricket — it’s about every girl who dreams, every child who deserves an equal chance.
The moment is symbolic: a reminder that the future belongs to those who keep their #PromisetoChildren.
Advancing a long-standing strategic partnership, the International Cricket Council (ICC) and UNICEF have united to harness their combined initiative to transform the power of sport, supported by celebrity film stars, into a movement for children’s rights. Cricket moves hearts, cinema shapes minds. Together, they form a bridge between inspiration and action.
“UNICEF's partnership with ICC is invaluable in building on the power of cricket to usher in a brighter tomorrow for children,” says Cynthia McCaffrey, UNICEF India Representative
UNICEF’s ‘Promise to Children’ campaign taps into that shared emotion — encouraging every fan and follower to turn their passion into purpose. Whether it is to support a girl in continuing her education, a child receiving vaccines, or a community getting safe water — every promise made helps transform lives.
UNICEF National Ambassador and Bollywood star Ayushman Khurrana participated in a trophy walk with children, accompanied by UNICEF India Representative Cynthia McCaffrey, at the India-Bangladesh match. “Cricket is more than a game in India; it’s an emotion that brings people together. When fans, players, and organisations come together through cricket to talk about their promise to children, equality and opportunity, that message reaches millions,” he said.
Throughout the tournament, the partnership turned matches into moments of advocacy. From cricket clinics in Guwahati, Assam, where the Brahmaputra Volleyball League children batted with the England team, to the “Roundtable on Child Rights’ in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, focusing on anaemia, the campaign brought together policymakers, athletes, corporate leaders and communities to speak up for children.
“When such a powerful platform conveys messages of equality and opportunity for children, it musters the power to inspire change. When children are healthy, educated, and safe, they thrive, and only then can they realise their dreams. The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup prominently upholds that potential,” said Kareena Kapoor Khan, UNICEF National Ambassador and Bollywood star, on the sidelines of her trophy walk with children during the semi-final match.
The Promise to Children campaign aims to reach as many people as possible in support of children in India. Funds raised through this campaign will support UNICEF’s ongoing programmes to support the most vulnerable children, facilitating their access to quality education, nutrition, clean water, and protection from violence.
The trophy, shining under the floodlights, reflects a dream — that every girl and boy will one day lift their own trophy: a trophy of opportunity, equality, education, health, and, most importantly, hope.
