In a historic moment at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, India’s national song, Vande Mataram, was played before the national anthem ahead of the start of the first of the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan on Sunday.
It is the first time that the national song has been played before the national anthem at an international cricket fixture involving the Indian cricket team.
Ushers at the stadium were seen making rounds as surprised fans watched from the press box. The full-stanza version of Vande Mataram was played before the national anthem following the toss, making the pre-match ceremony slightly longer than usual.
During the T20 World Cup earlier this year, India’s bilateral fixtures against Afghanistan in June did not feature the national anthem.
It is worth noting that the Ministry of Home Affairs, as per guidelines issued on January 28, prescribed the rendition of the full six-stanza version of Vande Mataram at specified official occasions. The guidelines state that whenever the national song and the national anthem are performed together, Vande Mataram should precede Jana Gana Mana.
The guidelines came into force in February amid controversy over their implementation and were later reiterated through a communication issued by the Centre in July.
The Arun Jaitley Stadium witnessed an electric atmosphere on Sunday evening as the first of the three-match T20I series, part of the landmark Friendship T20 Cup between India and Afghanistan, got underway.
Before the toss, the Indian team presented a jersey to Afghanistan through captain Shreyas Iyer. A special coin was also used for the toss to honour the friendship between the two nations. Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran flipped the coin at the toss.
The second and third T20Is, scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday, will also be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
India won the toss and opted to bowl. It did not take long for India’s lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah to strike, as he dismissed the big wicket of Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the first over.