Vande Mataram Played Before National Anthem at India-Afghanistan T20I

For the first time at an international sporting event, India's national song Vande Mataram was played before the national anthem ahead of a cricket match, following a government directive. The historic rendition occurred before the first T20 International between India and Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on September 13, 2026. The full six-stanza version of Vande Mataram, penned by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, was played for three minutes and 10 seconds. It was immediately followed by the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, which lasted 52 seconds. The combined pre-match ceremony took four minutes and two seconds, a significant departure from the standard protocol of playing only the competing nations' anthems. The change was implemented in accordance with updated guidelines from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. The ministry issued directives in early 2026 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram. The guidelines specify that whenever both the national song and anthem are performed together at official functions, Vande Mataram must precede Jana Gana Mana.