Cricketer-Turned-Transwoman Anaya Bangar Talks About Mental Health, Identity & Rejection
Anaya Bangar is the daughter of Ex-India cricketer Sanjay Bangar. She is seeking headlines after her bold stand about her journey as a transgender woman. Anaya, who once played cricket, shared that she had to quit the sport after beginning her gender transition.
In an interview with Lallantop, Anaya spoke about some of the struggles she faced — not just with society, but also within her own home.
Anaya said that her father, Sanjay Bangar, told her there was no space for her in cricket anymore. While she didn’t want to go into too much detail about her father during the interview, she confirmed that he had told her this directly.
“Yes, he told me there’s no space for me in cricket,” Anaya said. “At that point, I had to stand up for myself. I felt like the whole world was against me. It felt like I lost everything — even the right to live a normal life or chase my dreams.”
She shared that she even had suicidal thoughts during that time, feeling as though society had turned its back on her. “My family still gave me some support. But the world outside, including cricket, didn’t accept me.”
Anaya also spoke about the darker side of her experience in the cricket world — including harassment and inappropriate messages. She said that after her transition became known, some people, including well-known cricketers, sent her explicit photos and tried to take advantage of her.
“I’ve played with players like Musheer Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. But I had to hide my identity because my father is a known person,” Anaya said. “There’s a lot of toxic behavior and insecurity in the cricket world.”
She also recalled one incident where a senior cricketer made inappropriate comments and tried to take her away in a car after she shared her story.
“There has been some support, but also a lot of harassment,” Anaya added. “Some players sent me nudes. One used to abuse me in front of others, but then come close and ask for my photos. Another senior player said he wanted to sleep with me after I told him my truth.”
Anaya’s story is a powerful reminder of how difficult it can be for transgender people — especially in spaces like sports, where acceptance is still a struggle. Despite the pain, she’s speaking out to raise awareness and stand strong for who she is.
