Former Indian cricket greats have called for an overhaul of the Test team and say the future of the veteran batting lineup must come under scrutiny following the humiliating 4-0 series defeat by Australia.

India lost their past eight overseas Tests, most by big margins, creating a consensus among fans and commentators that changes are overdue.

They were comparatively competitive in the opening Test of the series in Melbourne but defeat there was followed by routs in Sydney, Perth and Adelaide.

“If the Indian team had performed better in Melbourne and perhaps have won the match, the result of the series could have been different,” former captain Sourav Ganguly told the Aaj Tak news channel. “If the team keeps losing like this, changes are inevitable.”

Sunil Gavaskar, who is considered along with Sachin Tendulkar as India’s greatest batsman, said the time had come to try younger players.

“If the team is going to get out for 160-odd, it’s better to do so with young players so that they can learn from experience and serve the country better in future,” Gavaskar told the Hindustan Times.

Ravi Shastri, a former Indian allrounder, felt the senior players such as Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag should be consulted about their future in the team but that age was “conspiring against them”.

“I do feel they need to be heard rather than shoved aside,” Shastri wrote in his column in The Times of India. “But it’s time they are asked about their future plans.”