With England Women having bounced back from a 2-0 deficit to win the third game of the five-match T20I series against India Women, taking place in England, t2 caught up with the player of the match from The Oval, Sophia Dunkley, on her Team India favourites, her journey in cricket and more. Excerpts.

How did you get into professional cricket?

Oh, I basically played with my neighbour, a boy called Zach. We lived on a dead-end road and we used to play in the back garden, in the front garden, on the street really. And then I joined a club with him when I was about 10 or 11. So yeah, a bit of street cricket for me.

Who were your role models when it comes to the game?

I think growing up, I played with a player called Beth Morgan, who played for England at the time. And, she played for the same county as me and coached me. And, I thought she was a really good role model, a very selfless teammate and a great player. And then I also loved watching Joe Root bat, growing up. And what he’s done for the game has been awesome to see.

Did you always want to be an all-rounder?

When I was younger, I started off as a bowler and bowled leg spin. My batting probably wasn’t as good as I’d like it to be, but I bowled a lot throughout my younger years. And then when I was a teenager, I probably started becoming a bit more of an all-rounder…. Then my batting took over, probably in my 20s. I love batting, which is great, and a bit of part-time leg spin in the nets. So, the girls get to face it every now and then and might roll out a few if needed. I always make sure I keep my bowling up just in case. It’s always good, I guess, to have a leg spinner in the team.

How has cricket shaped your psyche?

I think cricket obviously can be quite a tough game because you make one mistake as a batter and you’re out. And, sometimes you get a bit unlucky. So, I’ve really worked on how to bounce back from setbacks, how to logically think about things and not get too emotional. Like in a game, I made a bit of a mistake and had a run out. You can’t think too deeply about it. You’ve just got to kind of accept the mistake and move on to the next game and come back stronger. So, it’s definitely helped me to be more resilient as I’ve got older.

Who are your favourite sports personalities of all time?

I love playing with Danni Wyatt-Hodge, one of my really good friends. And she just always brings such positive energy, always smiling and laughing. I love a good laugh. I love being around people who can make me laugh and look at life in a really positive way. So, she’s been really great.

What are your favourite pastimes?

Away from cricket, I love spending time with my friends and family. I love being social, going for coffee and walking the dog with my family. I have a bit of a camera as well that I like to take photos (with), try and do a bit of photography when I get time, and exercise.

I also love playing some other sports or going for Pilates, going for a walk and keeping active in the fresh air as well.

What are some of your emotions as you go into the final T20I matches?

I think, just really keen to learn from what we’ve done over the last few games. I think we’ve reviewed it very well, and we’re just looking forward to the next few games coming out, still being our positive selves and how we want to play, but just trying to tighten up....

What do you think of the Indian side?

I think India has been extremely disciplined in all three areas of the game. They’ve bowled really well up front and throughout the middle and the batting, they’ve built partnerships.

Your pick from the Indian dressing room...

I thought Jemimah Rodrigues batted really well…. The way she used the crease, the pace and hit areas of the ground, I thought that was an amazing innings from her. And, (N. Shree) Charani, debuting in the first game, bowled really well….