Former India captain Mithali Raj and Kareena Kapoor Khan added a touch of glamour and grace to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 semi-final between India and Australia in Mumbai on Thursday.
The duo, joined by children Lubna Shah and Gaurav Sharma, and Cynthia McCaffrey, UNICEF India Representative, led the ceremonial ‘Trophy Walkout’ ahead of the high-voltage clash at the Wankhede Stadium.
The event was part of the ICC-UNICEF global partnership, which uses the power and reach of cricket to champion children’s rights to education, health, nutrition, clean water, and protection from violence — with a special focus on empowering girls.
The initiative also ties in with UNICEF’s ongoing ‘Promise to Children’ digital campaign, launched in September 2025 for the World Cup. The campaign, amplified across venues in India and Colombo, urges cricket fans and players alike to stand with UNICEF in ensuring every child grows up safe, educated and empowered.
'Being at the stadium today was so special … the energy, the cheers, the love for women’s cricket! It’s moments like these that remind me why it’s so important to let every child, especially girls, dream without limits #ForEveryChild #NationalAmbassador @UNICEFIndia @ICC @cricketworldcup @indiancricketteam,' Kareena wrote on ger Instagram handle alongside a few pictures.
On Sunday, October 26, actor Ayushmann Khurana, another UNICEF India Ambassador, cheered on the Indian players before their final group game against Bangladesh.
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