New Delhi, March 8 -- Before a single ball was bowled, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad had already given the crowd something to remember.

Veteran singer Kavita Krishnamurthy delivered a powerful and stirring rendition of the national anthem, instantly electrifying the atmosphere at the ground before the start of the T20 World Cup final between India and New Zealand.

She stood proudly before the Indian team as the Men in Blue joined her in singing the anthem, dressed in a blue saree that matched the iconic colour of the team's jersey. It was a moment of quiet dignity before what promised to be a very loud evening.

The response online was immediate and overwhelming. Fans across social media could not stop talking about the moment,...