Photo via Hindustan Times

Vande Mataram played before India-Afghanistan T20 tie

In a historic first for an Indian men's cricket fixture, the complete version of Vande Mataram preceded Jana Gana Mana ahead of the opening Twenty20 International against Afghanistan at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday. This newly established pre-match routine aligns with recent statutory updates after the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, cleared late July and secured President Droupadi Murmu's official assent in August.

Modifying Section 3 of the 1971 Act, the revised law gives the national song identical safeguards as the national anthem, designating deliberate disruptions or halts to its rendition as criminal acts. Additionally, a ten-page directive from the Union Home Ministry mandated the sequence of performing Vande Mataram prior to the anthem while urging spectators to stand at attention throughout.

The ritual reflects a broader initiative by the central government to highlight the national song, having already made its cricketing debut during the concluding match of the Delhi Premier League according to a DDCA representative. However, the procedure has not seen universal adoption yet, as it was bypassed during Sunday's Women's T20 Asia Cup final in Dubai where India faced Sri Lanka.