Anaya Bangar has opened up about her difficult journey back to cricket, saying she received no response from the BCCI when she sought assistance over her participation in India’s women’s cricket setup. The trans-athlete has now found a pathway to continue playing through Cricket Australia.
For Anaya Bangar, returning to cricket has been a long and difficult journey. The 25-year-old left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder says she once feared she would never play the sport again after beginning her transition in 2022.
In an interview with PTI, Anaya revealed that she had approached the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) seeking guidance on becoming part of the women’s cricket setup. According to her, the response she received was silence.
“It is very disappointing and heartbreaking that I was served with silence,” Anaya said.
The daughter of former India cricketer and coach Sanjay Bangar, Anaya said she understood that transitioning could force her away from the sport she loved. However, she continued looking for opportunities to return to cricket.
Her breakthrough came through Cricket Australia. After learning about its policy concerning transgender players, Anaya approached Cricket Australia’s Head of Integrity Jacqui Partridge in June. The process, she said, was considerably smoother than her experience with the BCCI.
Cricket Australia subsequently allowed her to play at the community level, giving her a route back onto the field as a woman.
“Just hearing the news about Cricket Australia clearing me, and basically providing me a path to play women’s cricket, to play cricket as who I am is huge for me,” she said.
An appeal to the BCCI
Anaya hopes her experience will encourage the BCCI to establish a clear policy for transgender cricketers in India.
“I hope that BCCI is open to this and tries to form policies surrounding this topic, since I’m the first case in India,” she said.
She also offered to contribute her experiences to any future policy discussions, saying her journey could provide useful insights into what may work for Indian cricket and women’s sport.
For Anaya, the issue goes beyond simply returning to competitive cricket. She described the transition period as isolating, particularly amid the wider political and social debate surrounding transgender athletes.
She said solitude helped her cope with the uncertainty and difficult changes she experienced during the process.
From survival mode to the cricket field
Anaya underwent gender-affirming surgery in March 2026. She said the years surrounding her transition involved major personal and family changes, as well as giving up the sport that had been central to her life.
Despite the challenges, she now feels she has reached an important turning point.
“I couldn’t be more grateful for this journey. It’s been a rollercoaster, it’s been brutal, it’s been filled with emotions, but I’m glad I’m on the stepping stone now,” she said.
Her immediate goal is to play club cricket and prove herself through performances. She is currently in discussions with several cricket clubs and hopes to eventually have an opportunity to be considered for the Women’s Big Bash League.
For now, Anaya is taking what she describes as “baby steps”. But after believing cricket was behind her, simply having a pathway back onto the field represents a major milestone.
Her journey could also place greater focus on how cricket boards develop policies for transgender athletes and create pathways for participation in the years ahead.
