Vande Mataram Played at T20I Match Between India and Afghanistan

In a significant event during the first T20I match between India and Afghanistan, the national song 'Vande Mataram' was played, followed by the national anthem. This coincided with the recent enactment of a law that elevates 'Vande Mataram' to the same legal status as the national anthem, making any insult to it a criminal offense. India opted to field first in the match, marking the return of star bowler Jasprit Bumrah. The playing XIs for both teams have been announced, highlighting key players in this exciting series.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 13, 2026, 21:59 IST

Vande Mataram Featured in T20I Match

During the inaugural T20I clash between India and Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday, the national song 'Vande Mataram' was performed, followed by the national anthem. As both teams assembled for the pre-match rituals, 'Vande Mataram' was played first, setting the tone for the event.

New Legislation Elevates 'Vande Mataram' Status

In July, both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha approved the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, through a voice vote. This legislation criminalizes any act of disrespect towards the national song 'Vande Mataram', which was passed after a brief yet heated debate involving opposition members.

Introduced in the Upper House on July 24, the amendment also penalizes insults directed at the national flag, the Constitution of India, and the national anthem, granting 'Vande Mataram' the same legal protections as the national anthem. The law is now officially in effect.

India Chooses to Bowl First

India won the toss and decided to field first in the opening T20I of the three-match series against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday. Star bowler Jasprit Bumrah made his return to the T20I squad after a hiatus since IPL 2026, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was left out. Wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson joined the playing XI despite Sooryavanshi's commendable performances in the Zimbabwe T20I series. It's noteworthy that this series is classified as an away series for India, with Afghanistan recognized as the official home team, even though the matches are being held in Delhi.

Playing XIs

Here are the playing XIs for the first T20I between India and Afghanistan:

India: Sanju Samson(w), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer(c), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy.

Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran(c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi.