India women’s cricket team and captain Harmanpreet Kaur are seen donning special pink jerseys in the third ODI against Australia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi today, marking a historic move to drive breast cancer awareness. This initiative is uniting cricket and health advocacy as players are leveraging their platform to encourage early detection and self-examination among women across India.
BCCI’s move uniting sport and health advocacy
The BCCI and SBI Life are rolling out the ‘Thanks a Dot’ campaign through this pink jersey initiative. Captain Harmanpreet is leading a powerful video message alongside teammates, urging every woman to embrace a monthly breast self-examination routine. The campaign is featuring the ‘Hug of Life’ hot water bags embedded with realistic 3D lumps modeled on actual cancer scans, helping women train their fingertips to detect abnormalities. On-ground workshops are reaching out to police officers, municipal workers and rural communities to reinforce the life-saving habit.
This collaboration is transcending the boundaries of sport as players are sharing personal stories and reminders on social media. Harmanpreet is stressing that ‘we train for uncertainties every day on the field and this pink jersey is reminding us to be prepared off it,’ Through this unified effort, the team is normalizing conversations around breast health and breaking down cultural taboos that often delay diagnosis.
Series stakes and historic context
On the field, India are seeking its first-ever bilateral ODI series win against Australia. The series is currently locked at one win apiece after Australia chased down India’s total of 281 in the first ODI by eight wickets, and India responded with a dominant 102-run victory in the second match. Smriti Mandhana’s century and the bowlers’ clinical performance are powering India’s comeback, setting the stage for today’s decider.
By wearing pink, the team is blending competitive spirit with social responsibility, transforming a routine fixture into a moment for nationwide impact. The match is also serving as vital preparation ahead of the Women’s ODI World Cup starting later this month in Guwahati. With Australia leading the head-to-head count historically, India is seizing this unique opportunity to rewrite records and amplify a message that extends far beyond the cricket pitch.
As the game unfolds, every run, every catch and every pink jersey is underlining a shared mission: harnessing the power of sport to foster health awareness and empower women to take charge of their well-being.
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
