India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I: Vande Mataram sung for the first time at an international cricket match in Delhi

National Song Vande Mataram was played for the first time at an international sporting event just before India’s opening T20 International against Afghanistan in New Delhi on Sunday.

Penned by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Vande Mataram was played after the national anthem Jana Gana Mana at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. As per the Union Home Ministry’s directive, the complete six-stanza version of the national song was played.

Jana Gana Mana took 52 seconds, while Vande Mataram was played for 3 minutes and 10 seconds, taking the combined duration of the two renditions to 4 minutes and 2 seconds.


The Ministry of Home Affairs had issued guidelines on February 6 governing the rendition of Vande Mataram as part of the 150th-anniversary commemorations of the national song.

The guidelines prescribed an official rendition lasting 3 minutes and 10 seconds and required everyone present to stand at attention while the song was being played.

They also approved the complete six-stanza version at formal government functions attended by the President or Governors, before and after presidential addresses broadcast on radio and television, when the National Flag is brought on parade and on other similar occasions.

The first two stanzas of Vande Mataram were chosen as the national song in 1937 by the Indian National Congress. The Constituent Assembly of India recognised it as the National Song in 1950.

The playing of the complete version at the Delhi T20I marked its first use at a sporting arena. It remains to be seen whether both the national anthem and national song will be played at upcoming ICC events.

India vs Afghanistan playing XI

India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to bowl first against Afghanistan.

India went with the experience of Sanju Samson, leaving out batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Jasprit Bumrah also returned to the playing XI after missing India’s recent assignments due to the left-knee injury that had ruled him out of an ODI in England and two Tests in Sri Lanka.

India picked specialist spinner Varun Chakravarthy ahead of seamer Yash Thakur.

"We've played quite a lot of matches here and looking at the conditions, we can bowl first. We had lots of positives from the Zimbabwe series and that's the attitude we'll carry," Iyer said after winning the toss.

Iyer said Bumrah’s return was a major boost for the side.

"It's a luxury to have him (Bumrah) in the squad -- he carries lot of great attitude when it comes to winning matches. Vaibhav (Sooryavanshi) is not playing, neither are Washington and two more."

India’s playing XI comprised Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy.

Afghanistan playing XI: Afghanistan fielded Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad and Fazalhaq Farooqi.