New Delhi: Anaya Bangar, daughter of former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar, is hoping to rebuild her cricket career after receiving clearance to participate in elite women’s cricket in Australia from March 2027. In an exclusive conversation with NDTV, Anaya opened up about her hormone replacement therapy, the physical changes she experienced, Cricket Australia’s decision and her ambition to represent India at the Women’s World Cup.
The 23-year-old began hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in 2024 and has received clearance under Cricket Australia’s Inclusion of Transgender and Gender Diverse Players in Elite Cricket Policy. She is currently eligible to participate in women’s cricket in Australia, subject to continuing to meet the policy’s requirements.
Anaya said her journey has involved significant personal and physical challenges, but she now wants cricket to become an important part of her identity again.
Anaya opens up about her transition and cricket journey
Speaking to NDTV, Anaya said that she had to fight many of the biggest battles in her journey herself, while also acknowledging the support she received from her family.
She said the experience had been difficult but expressed happiness that conversations around transgender athletes and sporting regulations were taking place.
Anaya also stressed the need for clearer regulations governing transgender participation in cricket. According to her, the absence of a specific framework in India has created uncertainty for athletes in similar situations.
Her comments come after Cricket Australia assessed her documentation and determined that she could participate under its existing policy.
Hormone therapy changed her physical abilities
Anaya explained that hormone replacement therapy involves testosterone suppression and estrogen medication, resulting in significant physical changes.
She said the process affected her stamina, muscle mass and bone mineral density. She also underwent surgery as part of her transition.
For an athlete, these physical changes have directly affected her cricket.
Anaya said the reduction in muscle mass changed both her strength and style of play. She acknowledged that her athletic capabilities have been reduced compared with her earlier years in cricket.
She currently puts her testosterone level at 0.6 nmol/L, which she said she has maintained for three years.
University of Manchester study examined her performance
Anaya also spoke about scientific testing she underwent while in England.
She partnered with the University of Manchester for a study after spending a year on testosterone-suppressing medication. Over a 12-week period, researchers assessed several physical and athletic indicators.
The tests included lung capacity, haemoglobin levels and power output, among other measurements.
Anaya said the researchers compared her results with those of female athletes and that her results were comparable to the female-athlete group involved in the study.
The study, as described by Anaya in the interview, formed part of her broader understanding of how her transition and hormone treatment had affected her athletic performance.
Cricket Australia clearance opens door to comeback
Cricket Australia’s decision has given Anaya a route back into competitive cricket.
She said the governing body reviewed her documentation under its existing regulations and has allowed her to participate in Australian women’s cricket.
However, the clearance does not automatically guarantee selection for the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL).
Anaya said Cricket Australia will test her testosterone levels again when she returns to Australia in March 2027. Her eligibility for elite competition will then depend on the results and the requirements of the policy.
She plans to use club cricket as the first step in proving her abilities before attempting to earn an opportunity in the WBBL.
That means her immediate focus is not simply on securing a franchise contract but on returning to competitive cricket, regaining her rhythm and demonstrating her ability on the field.
WBBL opportunity remains a future possibility
Anaya’s clearance has generated discussion about a potential WBBL appearance, but she is yet to earn a place in the competition.
Her route would involve performing in club cricket and meeting the necessary eligibility requirements. She will also need to attract the attention of teams and compete for an opportunity in one of the world’s leading women’s domestic T20 competitions.
For Anaya, the immediate objective is therefore to establish herself again as a cricketer.
The potential WBBL opportunity represents a longer-term goal rather than a confirmed selection.
Anaya hopes BCCI develops clear regulations
While Cricket Australia’s decision has provided her with a pathway, Anaya said she also wants the situation to change in India.
She hopes the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will establish regulations covering transgender participation in cricket.
According to Anaya, India currently does not have specific rules addressing the issue.
She said the debate should not simply be framed as being either for or against transgender athletes. Instead, she believes clear regulations and proper discussion are necessary so athletes understand the eligibility requirements and pathways available to them.
A clear policy could also provide sporting authorities with a consistent framework for assessing future cases.
World Cup and Olympic dreams remain alive
Despite the obstacles, Anaya has set ambitious targets for her cricket career.
She told NDTV that she wants cricket to become her identity and dreams of winning a World Cup for India.
She also expressed an ambition to win an Olympic medal through women’s cricket.
Those ambitions remain long-term goals, particularly because her immediate challenge is to return to competitive cricket and establish herself again.
Her potential pathway towards international cricket would also depend on the policies of the relevant governing bodies and future selection decisions.
Anaya wants to prove herself on the field
For Anaya, Cricket Australia’s clearance is an opportunity rather than an assurance of success.
She still needs to return to competitive cricket, demonstrate her fitness and performance levels and work towards earning selection.
Her own comments reflect that approach. Rather than assuming that clearance guarantees a place in elite cricket, she wants to prove herself through club cricket and earn further opportunities.
The potential WBBL pathway could therefore become an important stage in her comeback.
Cricket debate enters a new phase
Anaya Bangar’s case has brought renewed attention to the complex discussion surrounding transgender participation in competitive sport.
Cricket Australia has provided a policy-based pathway for her participation, while Anaya herself has called for clearer regulations in India.
The issue remains one where sporting bodies must balance their eligibility frameworks, athlete welfare and competitive considerations.
For Anaya, however, the immediate focus is more personal: returning to the sport she has played for years and building a new chapter in her cricket career.
Her dream of representing India at a World Cup remains distant and depends on many future developments. But with her Australian clearance providing a potential route back into elite cricket from March 2027, she now has an opportunity to begin working towards that ambition.