Can Gujarat Giants upstage Royal Challengers Bangalore yet again?

The third season of the WPL kicks off later today with a clash between last year's champions RCB and the bottom placed team in the points table - Gujarat Giants.

Gujarat's introductory years to the WPL has not seen them live up to the stellar expectations. A team, which was jampacked with stars and highlighted by star Aussie superstars, Beth Mooney & Ash Gardener, it has just been a reminder that star names cannot alone win you trophies - it's a team game. While most of the cricketing world were surprised with the choice of captaincy, with Beth Mooney herself admitting that she took the decision mostly due to the guidance of first season's coach, Rachael Haynes.

Michael Klinger made way for Haynes in the second year. But Gujarat's woes continued. The signing of young Aussie sensation - Phoebe Litchfield - ignited hopes, but it was a WPL to forget as the team failed to click as a unit and won only 2 matches. However, it is important to note that one of those matches were against their opponents tomorrow - Royal Challengers Bangalore.

So, what exactly has gone wrong for Gujarat? Beth Mooney's strategies as captain? Too many simitar styled players in the squad? Lack of a proper power hitter other than Gardner? While, the team has worked on bringing more variety, it will be interesting to see where they fit in the overseas players.

Gujarat has finally replaced Beth Mooney as captain, bringing in her fellow Aussie teammate Ash Gardner as their new captain. While some might say that the most expensive overseas player in the WPL has not lived to her reputation yet, this might just be the impetus Gardner needs. With a stellar Ashes behind her, Gardner, along with a very new looking support staff in Dan Marsh and Praveen Tambe, might just be looking at having more impactful performances.

This of course gives more leeway for Beth Mooney to concentrate more on her batting, which will be very crucial to Gujarat's fortunes. As we have seen last year, if Mooney fires, Gujarat win & Gujarat will be hoping Mooney continues her red-hot Ashes form.

However, the difficult decision lies in choosing the 4 overseas players. White Danielle Gibson looks set to miss out from the starting 11, I believe the opening slot should be a call between Deandra Rottin and Laura Welvaardt. Critics have often alleged that Gujarat's openers - Wolvaardt and Mooney have very similar styles of batting which just makes it a tad bit easier for the opponents to bowl to. Throwing Dottin and her explosive style will only make it easier for Mooney.

With Phoebe Litchfield coming in at 3, Harleen Deol & Gardner to follow, it makes a power-packed batting order for Gujarat. The bowling will be reliant on Ash Gardner & Tanuja Kanwer who I believe is one of the future players to watch out for. Along with them, left-arm spinner Mannat Kashyap, should be the ideal backup. Young pacer - Shabnam Shakil had an impressive season last year and Gujarat will be hoping she fires.

The challenge remains the fifth and sixth bowling slots for Gujarat. Meghna Singh looks like a sure starter, but her double-digit economy rate left much to be desired last season. Gardner will be hoping that Dottin can pull off the sixth bowler role.

There are days I wish franchise cricket is just a little bit more flexible, and the Giants could squeeze in one of my absolute favorites - Danny Gibson - in the starting 11. Remember that 9 ball 22 vs a roaring Shabnam Ismail in The Hundred final?