India, Aug. 29 -- It's been lonely, it's been brutal, but it's also been worth it. On the cusp of reclaiming her cricketing life, trans-athlete Anaya Bangar is unruffled by what the sceptics and critics have to say as she feels a bit of "education" is all it would take for them to come around.

"Served with silence" by the BCCI when she first approached the Board for assistance in becoming a part of India's women's cricket set-up, the 25-year-old found support from Cricket Australia, which allowed her to compete at the community shield level.

In an exclusive interview to PTI, Anaya said she has been through a roller-coaster ride since the beginning of her transition in 2022, a process which culminated with a gender affirming surgery in M...