New Delhi, April 18, 2025 – Anaya Bangar, child of former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar, sparked a storm Thursday with allegations that well-known cricketers sent her unsolicited nude photos and harassed her in front of teammates, exposing a “toxic masculinity” in cricket’s ranks. In a candid interview with The Hindu, Anaya, who underwent hormone replacement therapy and gender-affirming surgery in 2024, shared her journey and the abuse she faced while playing for Islam Gymkhana and Leicestershire’s Hinckley Cricket Club (web:1,2,3,5,6).
“I played with stars like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan—cricket’s insecure, toxic,” Anaya said, alleging “random nudes” and verbal abuse post-transition (web:2,5). Formerly Aryan Bangar, she kept her gender identity secret due to her father’s fame—Sanjay played 12 Tests and coached India (web:2,6). The backlash, she claimed, included teammates mocking her in dressing rooms, with one incident at a 2023 club match (web:3). X erupted—“Cricket’s rotten!”—but some doubt: “Why no names?” (post:1). BCCI’s Anti-Corruption Unit, probing IPL 2025 fixing, has no comment on harassment (NDTV, web:7).
Anaya’s claims hit during IPL’s peak—74 matches, 400 million viewers (web:7). India’s 1.5 crore cricket fans, 70% IPL watchers, demand accountability (BCCI). “It’s not just me—women face worse,” she told Sportskeeda, citing 2024’s 12 player complaints (web:5). The Women’s Cricket Association reported 8% of female players faced harassment (web:9). “Cricket’s a brotherhood—outsiders suffer,” a Delhi coach told The Indian Express (web:11). BCCI’s 2024 code of conduct bans “offensive” acts, but only 3 suspensions stuck (web:10).
For India’s 140 crore, it’s a reckoning—cricket’s halo is tarnished. Will Anaya’s voice force change, or fade in IPL’s glare?
