Play With Courage

How Cricket Inspires a Generation to Rise

by Nidhi Shukla, Co-CEO

When the Indian women’s cricket team made history with their World Cup win in November, it was a win for every girl who dreams beyond boundaries. It took me back eight years ago, when Girl Rising organized our first ever cricket match, on a dusty field in a small village in Alwar, Rajasthan. 

That day, a group of girls stepped onto the pitch for the very first time. Many had grown up believing cricket, like so much of life, was something meant for their brothers, not for them. But as the day unfolded, they played fearlessly -  laughing, learning, and discovering joy in a space they’d never been invited into before. That moment, soon after the release of the Girl Rising film, marked the beginning of something powerful: a movement to expand what girls believe is possible.

This past year, I felt that same spark again while watching students from our RISE program take to the field in Bilaspur and Rajgarh for matches under the theme Play with Courage. Organized with our partners Samarpit and CINI, these games were inspired by our comic book Kusum’s Adventurous Innings. In the story, Kusum dreams of becoming a cricketer but must confront the biases and expectations that stand in her way — much like the real women who have elevated Indian cricket through determination, grit, and sheer talent.

On those fields, Kusum’s journey came alive. Girls who had never picked up a bat swung with confidence. Boys cheered them on. Parents and teachers watched something shift right in front of them. And in 2026, we will be expanding these cricket matches across the RISE program because we’ve seen how a simple game can become a catalyst for courage, equality, and community.

Girl Rising has grown a great deal since that first match in Alwar. Today, through our merger with She’s the First, we are building a stronger, more unified global organization dedicated to ensuring that every girl learns, rises, and thrives. Our RISE program helps young people develop the skills they need for their futures: gender-equitable mindsets, social-emotional well-being, digital and financial literacy, communication, and a sense of agency that lasts long after the program ends.

As I step into the role of Co-CEO, my vision is rooted in what I saw on those cricket fields: the power of opportunity. When young people are invited into spaces once closed to them — whether a classroom, a cricket pitch, or a leadership role, change takes root. 

Play with Courage is not just a theme for a match. It is an invitation to question old norms, to create room for girls’ leadership, and to imagine a future where every young person can step forward without hesitation.