After being handed a lifeline in cricket, Anaya Bangar has claimed that her dream is to play for India and win the Women’s World Cup. Anaya, the daughter of former India cricketer and coach Sanjay Bangar, was given a chance by Cricket Australia to compete in community and Premier Cricket while keeping the prospect of elite-level cricket from March 2027 firmly on the horizon.
Anaya had called the decision a significant step in her journey but acknowledged that the clearance alone does not secure her a spot at the highest level. She is now focused on making her return to competitive cricket in Australia and earning an opportunity to eventually play in the Women’s Big Bash League.
Speaking to India Today in an exclusive interview, Anaya said that she hopes BCCI will look to create policies which will be inclusive, fair and dignified towards women’s cricket.
She said that her aim is to win major trophies with the Indian team.
“I just hope BCCI looks into it and creates policies which are inclusive, fair, and dignified towards women’s sport, and I hope to win the World Cup for India one day. And I want to do that. Like, I want to win something for the country, and that’s my dream,” said Anaya.
‘WAS LIVING IN DRESSING ROOMS IN UK’
Anaya revealed that her journey towards being on the cusp of return to cricket was anything but smooth. She said that she did face backlash from within her family and wasn’t fully supported.
“This journey was very tough. I had to deal with a lot of backlash, not just from the public, but within family as well. I got the bare minimum support, but like, I didn’t feel fully supported as well during the whole journey,” said Anaya.
Anaya also revealed that she was in survival mode and was living in dressing rooms in the UK in a bid to fend for herself. She then started to use social media to support herself and got her first few surgeries done with the help of it.
Anaya also said that the journey, even though was isolating and brutal, helped her become more confident and strong.
“There was a certain period of time where I was living in dressing rooms in the UK just to survive and like fend for myself during that time. I was, I was in that state for like 5 months, then eventually, I decided to come on social media to support myself and my surgeries. So I did that. I got some brand deals. I got my first few surgeries done, along with whatever goes with gender-affirming procedures as well during that time.”
“And it’s been a crazy ride, to be honest. It’s been isolating, it’s been brutal, but throughout all this, solitude has helped me a lot through this, and that’s what has made me so confident and strong, which I feel,” said Anaya.
For Anaya, receiving clearance from CA is just the first step in a much longer journey. Her priority now is to get back on the cricket field, rediscover her rhythm as an all-rounder and work her way towards a chance in the WBBL.
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