Anaya Bangar, daughter of former Indian all-rounder Sanjay Bangar, recently made headlines after publicly sharing her gender transition journey. Formerly known as Aryan, Anaya has played age-group cricket and is now speaking out about her experiences following hormone replacement therapy and gender-affirming surgery.
In a candid interview with Lallantop, Anaya opened up about her personal struggles, the challenges of living authentically in a male-dominated sports environment, and the harassment she has faced. Reflecting on her early realization of her identity, she shared, “When I was around eight or nine, I would try on clothes from my mother’s wardrobe and look at myself in the mirror, saying, ‘I am a girl. I want to be a girl.'”
Anaya, who has played with several notable cricketers including Musheer Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, said she had to hide her true self for a long time due to her father’s public profile. “The world of cricket is filled with insecurity and toxic masculinity. I had to keep my identity a secret for years,” she said.
Speaking about the response she received after undergoing gender-affirming surgery, Anaya acknowledged that it has been a mixed experience. “There has been support, but there’s also been harassment,” she revealed.
When asked about the nature of the harassment, Anaya made some shocking disclosures. “A few cricketers have sent me unsolicited nude images after finding out about my transition,” she said. “One individual, who used to hurl abuses openly, would later come and sit beside me, asking for my photos.”
She also shared a disturbing incident involving a veteran cricketer. “I confided in him about my identity, and his response was disturbing – he asked me to get into a car with him, saying he wanted to sleep with me,” she said.
Like her father, Anaya has also pursued a career in cricket. A left-handed batter, she has represented Islam Gymkhana in Mumbai’s local club circuit and also played for Hinckley Cricket Club in Leicestershire, UK.
However, her path forward in professional cricket faces significant hurdles. In November 2023, the ICC announced a policy barring transgender women from competing in international women’s cricket.
