Anaya Bangar, daughter of former Indian cricketer and coach Sanjay Bangar, has successfully undergone gender-affirming surgery in Thailand, marking a deeply personal and significant milestone in her journey. The 25-year-old cricketer and trans-rights advocate traveled to Bangkok in March 2026 for the procedure, which she described as a moment she had waited five years to realize. Anaya shared that the decision followed extensive therapy, medical evaluations, and deep self-reflection, emphasizing that the surgery was about “finally feeling at home” in her own body. Throughout this phase, she received guidance from fashion designer Saisha Shinde and actress Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju, who have navigated similar paths.
In a powerful display of familial solidarity, Anaya revealed that her parents, Sanjay and Kashmira Bangar, have offered their complete emotional and financial support, with her father bearing the entire cost of the surgery. This marks a transformative shift in their relationship, as Anaya had previously spoken about the challenges of gaining acceptance within the sporting world and her family. Before the procedure, Anaya also took the proactive step of freezing her sperm to keep the possibility of biological parenthood open through surrogacy in the future. Currently in her recovery phase, Anaya plans to take a six-month break from the cricket field to heal fully. As she look forward to returning to the sport as her authentic self, her openness continues to spark vital conversations around identity and inclusion in Indian society.