Ex-cricketer Sanjay Bangar's Son Undergoes Sex Change
Anaya Bangar, daughter of former cricketer Sanjay Bangar, shares her journey of transitioning to a woman and the struggles she faces as a transgender athlete in cricket.
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar is in the news for a deeply personal reason: his 23-year-old son, Aryan Bangar, has transitioned into a woman and now identifies as Anaya Bangar. Anaya, who has undergone Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to develop feminine traits, has been sharing her transition journey openly on social media, especially on Instagram.
Anaya, who was once known as Aryan, had followed in her father's footsteps with dreams of becoming a cricketer. However, her transition has brought both emotional and physical changes. She has been documenting her progress on Instagram under the handle @anayabangar, where she regularly posts updates, including mirror selfies, reels, and stories, talking about the difficulties of transitioning and how she feels happier with her new identity.
In a post on 10th November 2024, Anaya shared old photos from her time as Aryan, standing next to her father and famous cricketers MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. She reflected on her transition, calling it her "greatest victory," but later deleted the post. The next day, she shared a reel discussing the physical and emotional changes she’s experiencing, captioning it: "I’m getting weaker, but I’m feeling happier. My body is changing, and I’m starting to feel more like myself."
Anaya had always dreamed of representing India in cricket, but HRT has caused her body to change significantly. In a post from August 2024, she expressed her sorrow over having to give up her cricket dreams, saying, “Cricket became my passion, my goal, my future... but now, as a trans woman, my body has changed. I’ve lost muscle, strength, and the athletic abilities I once had. The game I’ve loved is slipping away.”
Living in Manchester, UK, Anaya continues to play cricket at a local club, Islam Gymkhana, but the transition has made it harder to pursue a professional career in the sport.
Anaya has also raised concerns about the rules for transgender women in cricket. In November 2023, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced that trans women who have undergone male puberty would not be allowed to compete in women’s cricket, fearing they might have an unfair advantage due to muscle mass and bone density gained during male puberty.
The ICC’s stance is that Hormone Replacement Therapy doesn’t fully reverse the advantages of male puberty. Similar policies exist in other sports, like rugby and athletics, with the aim to protect fairness and safety.
Recently, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also announced that transgender women would be banned from playing at the top levels of women’s domestic cricket, though they would still be allowed to play in lower tiers. Anaya, who is currently in England, will be ineligible to play at the elite level due to this rule.
Anaya has expressed her disappointment with these rules, calling for better regulations for transgender athletes. She also pointed out the contradictions in laws across countries, where in some places, transitioning is illegal for minors.
Her journey has sparked important conversations about identity, acceptance, and the challenges transgender athletes face in mainstream sports. Anaya continues to inspire many with her courage and honesty, encouraging a broader understanding of the difficulties faced by the trans community in sports and beyond.
