M. V. Narasimha Rao is a former Indian cricketer who played international cricket for India. A right-handed batsman and right-arm off-break bowler, he was associated with Hyderabad in domestic cricket and went on to feature in Test matches for the Indian national side. After his playing career, he was also involved in cricket administration and selection roles in India.
| Full name | Mamidala Venkata Narasimha Rao |
|---|---|
| Known as | M. V. Narasimha Rao; "Bobjee" |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Sport | Cricket |
| Role | All-rounder (right-hand batsman, right-arm off-break bowler) |
| Domestic team | Hyderabad |
| International team | India |
| Format | Test cricket |
Narasimha Rao came up through the Hyderabad cricket system, which during the 1970s and 1980s produced a number of notable Indian cricketers. He developed as an all-rounder, contributing with the bat in the middle order and bowling off-spin, a combination that gave the Hyderabad side balance in the Ranji Trophy.
Rao was a long-serving member of the Hyderabad first-class team, appearing in the Ranji Trophy and other domestic competitions organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). He played alongside contemporaries from Hyderabad cricket and was regarded as a dependable all-round contributor in the regional circuit.
He represented India in Test cricket, earning selection on the strength of his performances in domestic cricket. As an off-spinning all-rounder, he was part of an Indian set-up in which spin bowling traditionally played a central role. His international appearances were limited, and he is more widely remembered for his sustained body of work at the domestic level.
Following retirement from active cricket, Narasimha Rao remained connected with the game in India through coaching and selection responsibilities, including roles associated with national-level selection committees under the BCCI.
Rao's career is representative of the pipeline that connected Hyderabad's strong domestic structure to the Indian national team during his era. As an all-rounder who could bat in the middle order and provide off-spin, he typified the multi-skilled cricketer that Indian selectors often sought during the period.