Yalaka Venugopal Rao is a former Indian cricketer known for his righthanded batting and occasional rightarm offbreak bowling. He primarily played domestic cricket, representing Andhra Pradesh and later, other teams like Hyderabad. Rao was a consistent performer in the Indian domestic circuit for many years, amassing a significant number of runs and establishing himself as a reliable middleorder batsman. His career spanned over a decade, during which he participated in various formats of the game, including firstclass, List A, and Twenty20 cricket.

While he showcased his skills and talent at the domestic level, Rao's opportunities at the international level were limited. Despite his consistent performances in domestic cricket, he found it challenging to break into the highly competitive Indian national team. Nevertheless, he remained a dedicated and respected figure in the domestic arena, contributing significantly to his team's performances. He was known for his solid technique, temperament, and ability to build long innings. After retiring from active cricket, he has been involved in cricket administration and coaching, contributing to the development of young cricketers.