When I sit in a dugout in front of 20,000 people… you kind of have to pinch yourself: Mumbai Indians head coach Charlotte Edwards

She has an English T20 tournament named after her. After establishing herself as one of the all-time greats of women’s cricket, Charlotte Edwards took to coaching with the same passion that drove her to make 10,273 international runs. She broke the record for the highest ODI score in women’s cricket as a 17-year-old. More than a decade later, she led England to two World Cup triumphs in the same year! She guided Mumbai Indians to victory in the inaugural WPL. She is also the coach of Sydney Sixers, Southern Brave and Hampshire. Edwards spoke to The Hindu during the first leg of the WPL’s third season at Vadodara. Excerpts:

How do you find your journey with Mumbai Indians in the WPL?

I absolutely love it. It has been one of the real highlights of my career in terms of playing and coaching. We always hoped there would be a WPL. Then to be part of that first edition with Mumbai Indians, it is what dreams are made of really.

It was great to go through an auction for the first time, and then to get that team together within a short amount of time. What I am really pleased about is the way the Indian uncapped players have used their opportunity. The way Saika Ishaque played for us in the WPL’s first season and then going on to play for India, and S. Sajana hitting that six first ball in the second season. Now these are life-changing moments for these people.

When I sit in a dugout in front of 20,000 people in the night, here, or Bengaluru last year or before that in Mumbai, these are special moments. It has been fantastic, you kind of have to pinch yourself.

What made you join Mumbai Indians?

I don’t think you can’t accept an offer from Mumbai Indians. You know, it was the one franchise that I wanted to be part of. When I think about the IPL, I think of the success Mumbai has had over the years.

Were you approached by some other franchises as well?

Clearly, there was a lot of interest around that time. But Mumbai showed their interest pretty early. Things moved pretty quickly.

We are seeing a lot of teenagers making their debut at the WPL. And some of them are getting big money, too.

The WPL has changed the girls’ lives in India. It certainly is exciting. We are going to hopefully do even more over the next few years, because the game is only going to get bigger.

Women’s cricket probably didn’t seem like it was going to be big when you started out…

I had to work alongside playing. All the players in the England team were amateurs. When I made my debut in 1996, I paid for my own blazer.

The game transformed massively over the last five years or so. When I was playing ten years ago, you know, the game was moving. I was a professional cricketer back then. I think there were just 15 professionals in England at that time. It has been extraordinary really to see the rise of the game.

There wasn’t much of women’s cricket when I began. I just loved the game and played with boys. Then, thankfully I found some women’s cricket and then my rise to the top and playing for England happened very quickly.

And before long, you hit that 173 not out against Ireland in the 1997 World Cup at Pune.

It was a hot day. And I managed to score my highest international score at the tender age of 17.

What are your earliest memories of cricket?

Playing in the back garden with my brother, watching my dad play on a Saturday afternoon. You know, that was cricket for me. And now, I am sitting in a dugout in India in the best competition in the world.

And your first Test hundred was against India.

India is a special place for me. I really enjoyed playing here as a player. And I loved travelling around the country as a player. Now I get to do it all again as a coach.

The best Indians that you have played against?

Jhulan Goswami. She was an unbelievable bowler and someone I had a lot of good contests with over the years. And I really enjoyed that. I feel very fortunate now to work with her [as the bowling coach at Mumbai Indians] and get to know her, and, you know, call her my friend.

As for the batters, there have been Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur [now the captain at MI]. Smriti Mandhana just came in before I finished, but once I saw her play, I was like, wow, this girl is going to be so good. I enjoy watching her bat. And Yastika Bhatia is not far behind. I also like to watch Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield.

You also played with some brilliant players in the England team, such as the two Taylors, Claire and Sarah…

Claire Taylor was definitely one of the best I have played with. Sarah was the most talented player, without a doubt. Some of the things she could do as a keeper was unbelievable and she has played some of the best innings I have seen. I was very fortunate to play with some great players back in the day and now I get to coach some of the great players, which is even better.

You have played with and coached Nat Sciver-Brunt, who some consider the best female cricketer in the world.

She is just an unbelievable player, but also a great person, a very humble person. We have had a great time with her at MI. Even when I first saw her, she had an unbelievable work ethic. So it is no surprise to me that she has gone on and done great things in the game and will continue to do great things. I think people haven’t quite given her the credit for her bowling.

You were the captain of England for 10 years. Winning those two World Cups in 2009 must have been special…

It will always be special. To win the 50-over World Cup in Australia and then to win in the T20 back at home at Lords — probably no better venue to do it. Those were very special months really for us as a side. To be the captain of that team… those were some fantastic moments.

What is the state of the women’s game back home now?

Really positive. We have gone to a county structure now. There are eight professional county teams, with another 10 professional teams in Tier 2. And The Hundred has been great for women’s cricket, attracting family crowds.