2015 World Cup will be Duncan Fletcher’s final India assignment: Reports

New Delhi: Indian cricket board is reportedly looking for a new national coach to replace incumbent Duncan Fletcher. The Zimbabwean's contract with the BCCI expires after the 2015 Cricket World Cup, that will conclude on March 29.

On Tuesday, a leading English daily quoted a BCCI source as saying, “We are talking to a few people. We have also asked the senior players in the side to give their opinion.”

The report added that Fletcher also wanted to relinquish the post so that he could spend time with his family. Known for his soft-spoken personality, Fletcher replaced Gary Kirsten as India coach in 2011 and helped the young team grow with Mahendra Singh Dhoni as captain.

However, with India's faltering overseas Test record, many have started questioning Fletcher's tactical acumen despite helping the team maintain its numero uno position in the limited overs After Test series defeats in England and in Australia, his position as India coach came under criticism.

Post the England debacle, the BCCI had appointed former India all-rounder Ravi Shastri as the team director thus limiting 66-year-old's role as a coach in the team. In October, bowling coach Joe Dawes and fielding coach Trevor Penney contract's were terminated.

In between, the BCCI denied recent media reports claiming Indian ODI skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni had suggested the name of former Australian batsman Michael Hussey as a possible replacement for Fletcher.

In all probability, the series Down Under will be Fletcher’s final India assignment. India will start their World Cup defence in Adelaide on February 15 against arch-rivals Pakistan.

With agency inputs