'Vande Mataram' played before India-Afghanistan T20I after Home Ministry guidance

India's national song "Vande Mataram" was played before the first Twenty20 international between India and Afghanistan in India on September 13, when the two sides met in the opening match of a three-match series. The change follows guidance issued in February by the Ministry of Home Affairs as part of the 150th anniversary commemorations of the national songs.

While most countries customarily play a national anthem before international fixtures, Indian cricket matches have recently featured the national song instead. The complete six-stanza rendition of "Vande Mataram" was performed before the international match in India, a choice that surprised many Indian cricket fans.

The Home Affairs guidelines published in February set out rules governing how the national song should be rendered during official events tied to the commemorations. Those guidelines specify that the official rendition should last three minutes and ten seconds.

Separately, an incident at the Suzuki Cup in Japan involved the ground staff initially playing "Vande Mataram" ahead of a match in which India faced the hosts of the Asian Games. The organisers corrected the mix-up and subsequently played India's national anthem.

Under the current guidance from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the National Song will be performed before the start of the first game of every home series for the Indian cricket team.