Vande Mataram and National Anthem Played at India-Afghanistan T20I
· Sports · Indian Express, Times of India, India Today
Both Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana were played before the start of the first T20I match between India and Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. This inclusion follows a Union Home Ministry directive issued on January 28 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the national song, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. In the match, India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to bowl first. The playing XI saw the return of pacer Jasprit Bumrah and the inclusion of Sanju Samson, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was dropped.
Why it matters
The playing of both compositions marks a departure from standard pre-match protocols in international cricket, reflecting a government-led initiative to commemorate a national milestone.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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