NEW DELHI: The Indian national anthem was interrupted twice, leaving players and fans alike puzzled in an unexpected technical glitch during the first T20I between India and South Africa at Kingsmead in Durban.
Just moments before the much-anticipated start, the anthem was cut off mid-verse, leaving some players, including Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma, baffled.
While some, like captain Suryakumar Yadav and Axar Patel, responded with smiles amid the tension, fans watching off the field expressed frustration at the disruption.
Fans took to social media to voice their disappointment, with many finding the interruption disrespectful and questioning the organization behind the anthem’s execution.
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Despite the anthem’s eventual completion, the incident left a lasting impression, momentarily overshadowing the game’s opening.
With the anthem hiccup behind them, both teams were eager to shift focus back to cricket.
Earlier South Africa’s captain, Aiden Markram, won the toss and opted to bowl, hoping to capitalize on any moisture in the pitch due to recent rains.
“We are going to bowl first. Looks a pretty good wicket. There has been some rain around this week and if there’s moisture we want to make use of it. Fantastic opportunity for guys to make their debuts at home and it is a great time for them to enjoy the game. We are quite a competitive team and the discussions have been how can we get positive results,” said Markram after winning the toss.
On the Indian side, skipper Suryakumar Yadav shared that Team India was looking forward to setting a formidable total by batting first, especially on a surface that appeared more favourable than practice pitches.
“We were looking to bat first. The wicket looks nice, better than the practice wicket and we will try to put runs on the board. The guys in the dressing room have made my job easier, the fearless approach they play with for their respective franchises and have brought the same approach to the team,” remarked the Indian skipper.