The India vs Afghanistan first T20I witnessed a special moment before the start of the match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday.
In a first at an international sporting event, the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ was played after the national anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’ before the players took the field.
The historic moment took place ahead of India's first T20I against Afghanistan, with the entire stadium coming together for the rendition. The playing of the national song added a different atmosphere to the start of the contest, with players and spectators standing in attention.
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As per the Union Home Ministry's directive, the complete six-stanza version of ‘Vande Mataram’ was played at the venue.
The national anthem lasted around 52 seconds, while the national song was played for approximately three minutes and 10 seconds, taking the total duration of the two renditions to just over four minutes.
WATCH: Vande Mataram Played At Arun Jaitley Stadium
The special sequence began with ‘Jana Gana Mana’, followed by the rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’. The moment created a unique atmosphere inside the Arun Jaitley Stadium as the crowd and players stood in attention.
The national song, penned by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, has a deep historical significance in India's freedom movement. Its rendition before an international cricket match marked a first for a sporting arena.
The moment was also captured on camera, with the visuals from the stadium quickly becoming one of the talking points ahead of the India-Afghanistan clash.
Vande Mataram To Be Played Before First Match
According to BCCI sources, the playing of ‘Vande Mataram’ will now become part of the proceedings before the first match of every home series in India.
The development follows guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on February 6 as part of the 150th-anniversary commemorations of the national song.
The guidelines prescribed an official rendition lasting three minutes and 10 seconds and stated that everyone present should stand in attention while the song is being played.
The complete six-stanza version was also approved for certain formal occasions, including government functions attended by the President or Governors and other specified national events.
Historic First
The first two stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ were chosen as the national song in 1937 by the Indian National Congress, while the Constituent Assembly recognised it as India's National Song in 1950.
Its rendition at the Arun Jaitley Stadium before an international cricket match has now created a new precedent in Indian sport.
With ‘Vande Mataram’ being played before the first match of a home series, attention will now turn to whether the national song and national anthem will also feature together at upcoming ICC events in India.