Transgender cricketer Anaya Bangar has hit back at critics opposed to her playing women’s cricket in Australia, declaring she has scientific evidence showing she does not hold an unfair physical advantage.
The 25-year-old daughter of former Indian Test cricketer and national batting coach Sanjay Bangar has been cleared by Cricket Australia to compete in elite domestic women’s cricket from March 2027, subject to a final testosterone test.
Bangar, who underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2026, told the Daily Mail that she wanted to turn the backlash surrounding her eligibility into education and awareness.
‘I’m willing to take that and basically try to turn that into education and awareness, which I intend to do through my case and many other people out there who have gone through the same process as me and don’t have any unfair advantage,’ she said.
‘I think that’s where it all comes down to, and I hope people eventually understand.’
Bangar began playing cricket at three and represented Mumbai at under-16 and under-19 level before beginning her transition during the Covid lockdowns.
Transgender cricketer Anaya Bangar has hit back at critics opposed to her playing elite women’s cricket in Australia
Bangar claims scientific testing shows she does not possess an unfair physical advantage over cisgender female cricket players
Cricket Australia cleared Bangar to compete in elite domestic women’s cricket from March 2027, subject to policy requirements
She said she had experienced gender dysphoria since childhood but suppressed those feelings because of the attention surrounding her famous father.
‘Since childhood, I always had feelings of gender dysphoria. I wasn’t comfortable and happy in my own skin,’ she said.
‘Throughout those years, I just tried to suppress myself, try to hide and play cricket.
‘When you’re born into a family in which my father is well known, it can be very stressful, very pressurising.
‘You can’t actually live as yourself because then that would turn into scrutiny, news and a lot of backlash.
‘Eventually, there came a point where I was like, “I can’t hide anymore”, and that’s when I decided that I’ll come out and I’ll start transitioning, regardless of me having to give up cricket or not.’
Bangar said her father was initially supportive but admitted his journey towards fully accepting her transition was continuing.
‘We started going to psychiatrists and psychologists for consultation, and we went through a lot of those sessions,’ she said.
Her father Sanjay Bangar (pictured) played 12 Tests and 15 one-day internationals during his career with the Indian national team
Bangar said coming out placed pressure on her family because of her father’s prominent standing within Indian cricket
Bangar underwent hormone replacement therapy before having gender reassignment surgery in Thailand
‘Eventually, I got diagnosed with gender dysphoria, and I was approved to start my hormone replacement therapy.
‘It’s been a journey with him and the acceptance as well. I think he’s not fully there yet, but at the same time, I would just say that it has been hard.’
Bangar participated in research at the Manchester University Institute of Sport after undergoing more than a year of hormone replacement therapy and testosterone suppression.
She said researchers assessed her lung capacity, power output and haemoglobin levels before comparing the results with those recorded by cisgender female athletes.
‘Whatever data that suggested, it all fell within that range,’ Bangar said.
‘I’m not talking from personal feelings or opinions. I have actual scientific evidence backing my case.
‘My advocacy in this part is that not all trans women have an unfair advantage. It needs to be assessed on a case-by-case basis, similar to how Cricket Australia has approached my case, and I think that’s how it should be worldwide as well.’
She also rejected claims that people transitioned to gain access to women’s sporting competitions.
Critics have argued Bangar’s inclusion could deny female cricketers selection opportunities within Australia’s elite women’s domestic competitions
Bangar said she was prepared to confront the backlash and use her experience to promote greater education and awareness
She stressed that she wants to earn WBBL selection through her performances rather than her story or public profile
‘There’s so much stigma,’ she said.
‘People aren’t very educated about this topic or aware about what actually happens after you go through this lengthy process.
‘They’re quick to just pass on judgments or assume that some people transition just to enter women’s spaces, which is absolutely not [the case].’
Critics have argued that Bangar’s inclusion could cost a female player a place in a team.
‘Inclusion that causes exclusion is not progress,’ one opponent wrote.
‘Taking the place of a female in female sport, a category women fought hard to achieve, isn’t progress. It’s an affront to female participation and the ability of females to play on an even field.’
Another said they would be unhappy if their talented 16-year-old daughter missed higher honours because a transgender woman was selected ahead of her.
Bangar has also received messages of support, with one person arguing that her reduced testosterone levels and three-year absence from cricket should be considered.
‘Let her play,’ the supporter wrote. ‘If you are willing to go through all that she has, up to this point in life, by all means let her play.’
Bangar has not been handed a WBBL contract and would still need to earn selection through club and Premier Cricket performances.
She said she was considering basing herself in Melbourne and had begun discussions with Australian clubs.
‘It is going to be [tough] because I have a new body that I’m going to play with,’ she said.
‘Australian women’s cricket is of the utmost standard when it comes to international cricket.
‘It’s just about me playing and performing and earning a spot through my cricket and through my performance. That’s what I intend to do, and that’s how I want to be picked.
‘Not for my story or what I represent. It’s for my performance.’
