Anaya Bangar, formerly Aryan Bangar, the son of former Indian cricketer and coach Sanjay Bangar, now identifies as a trans woman after undergoing gender transition surgery. She has recently become a hot topic after an Instagram reel showcasing her sex transformation journey went viral. 23-year-old Anaya, who has been a club cricketer for Islam Gymkhana and has also played cricket for Leicestershire’s Hinckley Cricket Club in England, recently posted another reel replying to her ‘supporters’ and ‘haters’ who have been a part of her journey.
Anaya Bangar recently went viral after an old reel of hers showcasing her transformation journey following Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) in 2023 gained traction on social media. The now-deleted post highlighted her progress over several months during her gender transition and featured photos with former India captain MS Dhoni, star batter Virat Kohli and her father, Sanjay Bangar.
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The post garnered significant attention, receiving both positive and negative reactions. Responding to the attention, Anaya has posted another reel acknowledging both her supporters and haters. The caption reads, “Love to all the supporters and haters. You’re all a part of this journey.”
Watch Anaya Bangar’s recent Instagram reel here:
Anaya's Cricket Ambition Dwindles Following Sex-Change Surgery
Anaya’s cricket ambitions have been deeply impacted since her gender change as she can not represent a national team in the sport.
In November 2023, the International Cricket Council (ICC) updated its regulations, ruling that any player who has undergone male puberty, even if they later transitioned to female and underwent gender reassignment treatment, will not be eligible to compete in international women’s cricket. This effectively prohibits trans women from representing their national women's teams.
Earlier, in a heartfelt post, Anaya opened up about the struggles she faces as a trans woman in cricket. She shared how her passion for the sport was inspired by her father, Sanjay Bangar, and how she dreamt of following in his footsteps. However, after undergoing HRT, she expressed the pain of losing her physical abilities, such as strength and muscle memory, that once helped her in cricket.
Anaya highlighted the lack of proper regulations for trans women in cricket. She criticised the requirement to have transitioned before male puberty, pointing out the legal and societal barriers preventing early transitions. Anaya called for policies that would allow trans women to compete without having to choose between their identity and their love for the sport.
Here’s a look at Anaya’s Instagram post: