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Sports
Vande Mataram sung before anthem at India‑Afghanistan T20I in Delhi
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 14 Sep 2026, 01:46 AM
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During the India‑Afghanistan T20 International in Delhi, the crowd sang Vande Mataram before the national anthem, following the Board of Control for Cricket in India's protocol.
The India‑Afghanistan Twenty20 International held at the Delhi stadium featured a pre‑match ceremony in which the patriotic song Vande Mataram was sung before the Indian national anthem. The sequence aligns with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) guidelines that prescribe Vande Mataram as a pre‑anthem anthem at international fixtures hosted in the country.
Officials explained that the practice is intended to honour the nation’s cultural heritage while maintaining the constitutional order of playing the anthem thereafter. Spectators joined the singers, creating a unified atmosphere of national pride ahead of the game.
The match proceeded after the ceremonial singing, with both teams preparing for the first T20 encounter of the series. The inclusion of Vande Mataram has become a regular feature at high‑profile sporting events in India, reflecting the country's emphasis on patriotic expression in public gatherings.
Officials explained that the practice is intended to honour the nation’s cultural heritage while maintaining the constitutional order of playing the anthem thereafter. Spectators joined the singers, creating a unified atmosphere of national pride ahead of the game.
The match proceeded after the ceremonial singing, with both teams preparing for the first T20 encounter of the series. The inclusion of Vande Mataram has become a regular feature at high‑profile sporting events in India, reflecting the country's emphasis on patriotic expression in public gatherings.