India, April 21 -- Twelve years ago, the Mumbai Indians lost their first five matches and languished in the bottom half of the table, only to turn it around and make the playoffs. It happened last season as well-four defeats in the first five games eventually led to a playoff run. But their most stunning turnaround came in 2015, when they lost five of their first six matches before scripting a run to lift the title.

Mumbai Indians have lost four of their first five matches this season. Yet, there wasn't a sense of deja vu this time, nor were the defeats brushed aside as part of their reputation as slow starters. MI had the elements, but nothing clicked in unison, leaving problems across departments-including Hardik Pandya's captaincy.

B...