Time to take the bull by the horns. The Fakhar Zaman ball-tampering incident on Sunday has given us a massive opportunity to expose Pakistan’s dominance in the late 1980s and the 1990s, especially against India. The Pakistani media often speaks of their team’s superior head-to-head against India in ODIs and Tests. In fact, they gloat over it. Every time Pakistan have lost to India in the last 10 years or so, you always see a former Pakistani player — be it Mohammad Yousuf or Saqlain Mushtaq or Shoaib Akhtar — bring it up in an attempt to rub it in.
Waqar Younis was the first player to be officially suspended and banned for ball-tampering. (AFP)
As of today, Pakistan have won 12 Tests against India’s 9 and 78 ODIs against India’s 58.
For a large part of the ongoing century, India have been a much better team, but sadly there has not been much cricket between both the teams. India and Pakistan haven’t played a Test series since 2007-08. They haven’t played an ODI bilateral series since 2012-13.
They mostly play each other at ICC events or Asia Cups, and India have dominated them overwhelmingly, but despite that, Pakistan continue to enjoy a superior head-to-head. Though it has to be said India have cut into their lead quite significantly — thanks to their 13 wins and 3 losses in T20Is — and it won’t be long before the western neighbours are left behind.
Anyway, the thing that we are discussing here is how Pakistan managed to win so many matches against India. Yes, they had some very talented players like Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Akhtar and so many others, and they did impact the India-Pakistan encounters greatly, but there was a bigger reason that helped Pakistan to often beat India, rather unfairly. Yes, it was their ability to tamper with the ball and then get it to reverse-swing. On the dry pitches of Sharjah, particularly, they were head and shoulders above.
Readers will be shocked to know that it’s a standing joke among Pakistani players from those eras, like how they used to rough up the ball with impunity and wreak havoc on opposition teams. There were not many cameras back then, so they could have done it without the fear of getting caught. Shahid Afridi, Akhtar, Younis, Azhar Mahmood, all have been penalised at some point. The “great” Younis was the first player to be fined and suspended for ball tampering in 2000. His team-mate for many years, Aamer Sohail has said on record how the Pakistan bowlers of that era abused their know-how to tamper with the ball.
“When we had to win by ball tampering, we just had to do that. The ball used to swing. There were no meetings at all. Our technical aspect was absolutely zero,” Sohail told Geo News in an old interview.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) in the last couple of decades has become very sensitive to ball-tampering. The famous sandpaper case in 2018 involving Australia’s Steven Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft is a classic example. Once it was proved that the trio had roles in meddling with the ball, the governing body came down really hard on them. Smith and Warner were banned for a year, while Bancroft received a nine-month suspension. Warner was even told that he would never captain Australia.
It’s considered a very serious offence now. Absolutely non-negotiable!
One of the reasons Pakistan are not as potent a team as they used to be is that they can’t do ball-tampering anymore. Zaman’s case serves as a great reminder of how the Pakistanis have always been at it. A leopard indeed can’t change its spots.
Bimal Oberoi envisions a vibrant future for the ‘Dhurandhar’ universe that extends well beyond his role as Shirani. He proposes delving into the intriguing backgrounds of characters like Rakesh Bedi, Danish Pandor, Akshaye Khanna’s Rehman Dakait, and Mustafa Ahmed’s Rizwan, emphasizing the ensemble’s multifaceted nature. Read the full article to know more in detail.
The ‘Dhurandhar’ universe may be even bigger than audiences realise and actor Bimal Oberoi, who played Shirani, the formidable leader of the Baloch United Force (BUF) and the weapons supplier at the centre of the conflict, is already making the case for it. In an exclusive conversation with ETimes, Oberoi opened up about the extraordinary depth of the character ensemble Aditya Dhar has built across the two-film spy saga and why he believes the world of ‘Dhurandhar’ is rich enough to feature multiple spin-offs and standalone backstories.Dhurandhar 2 Movie Review
Bimal Oberoi says his character Shirani can definitely have a spin-off
In an interview with ETimes, Bimal Oberoi opened up about the possibilities of spin-offs for several characters from ‘Dhurandhar’ movies. He shared, “Not only Shirani. Look at Rakesh Bedi Ji’s character. Look at that handsome boy Danish (Pandor); jo jail main hain. Unke character pe bohot kuch ho sakta hai (The one who is in jail—their characters can have a lot happening around them).”He added, “Even Mustafa Ahmed’s Rizwan, uske character ka spin-off ho sakta hai. Kiske character ka spin-off nahi ho sakta? (Even Mustafa Ahmed’s Rizwan—his character could have a spin-off. Whose character couldn’t have a spin-off?)”Bimal Oberoi added that even Akshaye Khanna’s Rehman Dakait can have a backstory. He said, “Jo Gaurav Gera hai, unki backstory ho sakti hai… kon the, kaise aaye the. Sabhi characters itne kamal ke hai, aap sabhi pe back story bana sakte ho. Shirani ki bhi ban sakti hai. Bohot achchi ban sakti hai (Take Gaurav Gera—his character could have a backstory… who he was, how he came. All the characters are so remarkable, you could build a backstory for each one. Even Shirani’s could be explored—and it could turn out really well).”Oberoi said that producers have to decide what they want to make next. Praising Aditya Dhar, he said that the filmmaker can do anything. He said, “Looking at Aditya Dhar, the kind of talented person he is, he can do whatever he wants.”Exclusive – Bimal Oberoi says Ranveer Singh was always Hamza ‘subconsciously’ on ‘Dhurandhar The Revenge’ set: ‘Matlab ye nahi…’
More about ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’
Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film features Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun, R Madhavan, and Rakesh Bedi. The star also includes Pandor, Bimal Oberi, Danish Iqbal, Mustafa Ahmed, Gaurav Gera, and more. The film has earned over Rs 840 crore in just 11 days since its theatrical release. With every passing day, the espionage thriller is setting a new record. The film arrived in cinemas on March 19, 2026.
Last Christmas Eve, a 77-year-old woman in New Delhi received an unexpected call from what she thought was the police. Contacting him via WhatsApp video, the team of uniformed policemen inside a police station said he had been arrested on suspicion of money laundering.
A scene from a video provided by the Hyderabad Police Commissioner shows a man impersonating an Indian police officer and attempting to trick someone over a video call.
A few days later, she attended a virtual hearing before a Supreme Court judge, who was sitting in her book-lined chamber.
It was all fake – elaborate stage sets were designed to steal his money. Officials are worried that similar scams could soon emerge in other countries, including the US.
In this case, the fake police instructed Dr. Indra Taneja, a retired pediatrician, to keep her phone and laptop cameras on almost all the time, so that they could keep an eye on her every move. He was under threat from criminals who wanted to silence his testimony, he said.
The actors said officials need to verify that all their properties are clean. So in 16 days, he transferred $1.6 million from his accounts. Then the fake officials disappeared – along with his money.
“It was very reassuring,” said Taneja, a former assistant professor at Rutgers University’s medical school. “They did it very fast.”
The Indian scam, now common across the country, involves a Hollywood-level production that mimics the state machinery, tricking people with fake police stations and courtrooms. Victims are told they are under “digital arrest” for crimes such as money laundering or drug trafficking, and are ordered to remain on camera for several days or weeks while investigators allegedly verify their assets.
Experts say scams have begun to appear in American immigrant communities, although they are not as widespread as in Western countries, in part due to the lack of skilled scammers with American or other Western accents.
Officials say it’s only a matter of time before they spread even further. Stage sets modeled after those of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and law enforcement agencies in the UK and Australia are found inside scam centers in cambodiaAccording to Jason Tower, a senior expert at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.
“It’s basically like a global supermarket of fake police stations,” he said of the recent findings in the abandoned Scam Compound. “It’s incredible in terms of the numbers and how specific they are.”
Authorities say fake-police scam has ensnared thousands of people in India. He says these schemes prey on fear of the legal system and the social stigma associated with criminal investigation, implicating even highly educated professionals.
“This kind of sophistication is unprecedented,” said Pronab Mohanty, head of cyber crime and narcotics for India’s Karnataka state police. “It’s a whole different ballgame.”
familiar script
According to Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India Surya Kant, from 2021 to 2025, Indians lost nearly $6 billion to digital arrest scams. The country’s top court had in February ordered banks and law enforcement agencies to step up investigation. Billboards and posters warning the public not to become victims have appeared across the country.
The opposition follows a similar script. A scammer dressed in police uniform, sitting in an office bearing the symbol of a law enforcement agency, calls the victim on WhatsApp. The fake policeman turns on the video and starts accusing them of criminal activity.
There will soon be a “digital arrest,” followed by strict rules: keep video calls on at all times or check in regularly. Under virtual house arrest, victims are pressured to pay fines, bail payments or transfer funds temporarily held pending official audit.
Some victims have sold homes or depleted retirement portfolios. A Bengaluru-based technology executive was kept under fake digital arrest for an entire year and $3.4 million was extorted from him, police said. Scammers often seek to target wealthy and highly educated people. Many victims are elderly.
Retired Indian Army Colonel Frederick DeSa, 83, said the Mumbai Police woman who arrested him last October over WhatsApp for allegedly funding terrorists was completely credible.
She was always seen making calls from the police station wearing khaki uniform and cap, he said. Sometimes a junior constable would come into the frame and salute him.
“She spoke very good English,” D’Sa said. “She’s definitely educated. She’s not from the street.”
Bengaluru residents visited banks seven times in three days to sell their mutual funds. He transferred more than $60,000 to several accounts that he was told were linked to the central bank for auditing.
The policeman so frightened her by warning of serious legal consequences that she avoided telling her daughters or the bank managers.
“They drive you crazy,” said D’Sa, who was able to recover about $6,500 but never caught the scammers. “You don’t know what to do. You’re helpless.”
wide sound stage
Some operations have been busted in India. But investigators say most of the elaborate digital arrest scams originate here Growing crime centers in Cambodia and Myanmar, Where scammers collect digital sets and reach out through videos, which makes it difficult for the Indian police to stop them.
Law enforcement in several countries have stated that soundstages get even small details correct, which indicates that they are designed by people who have studied the real versions.
In Cambodia, officials recently took journalists on a tour of an abandoned scam center and showed off the remains of movie-like sets designed like Indian police stations. In one room, an emblem of the Greater Mumbai Police hung behind a table decorated with Indian flags. A police cap was placed on top of a cupboard, while a folded uniform was placed near a computer.
The stacks of forms carefully documented each victim’s personal information and assets, including bank balances and the ages and professions of family members.
Mohanty, a Karnataka state police officer, said operations targeting Indians often involve Indian nationals who were lured to work at the scam premises. Indians who were later freed from the complexes told police that they sometimes received training in acting and regional accents to better present themselves to law enforcement officers.
“It was like a magic show where the illusion was happening in front of us,” said R Rao, a 45-year-old accountant from the stricken southern city of Udupi. “You know it’s not true, but you still fall for it.”
‘Like hypnosis’
Starting with a WhatsApp call in early January, Rao faced a roving team of officials claiming to be from India’s telecom regulator, Mumbai Police, a financial crimes agency and the Supreme Court, all focused on proving that he and his assets were not linked to money laundering.
Rao had prevented friends from falling prey to scams and advised clients against suspicious financial transactions. But when a man resembling a Mumbai Police officer appeared on video, he and his wife followed every instruction.
They checked their location every two hours, reported all their property, and kept the drama a secret from their two children. Following the instructions, Rao took a loan of $22,000 using the family’s gold jewelery as collateral and sent the money for auditing. He borrowed another $16,000 from his brother-in-law for bail.
Rao sometimes felt that something was wrong. But the scammers’ confidence and their ready answers to every question convinced them that it was real. “It was like hypnosis,” said Rao, who never withdrew any money. “He was a great actor.”
to create fear
Taneja’s case involved a three-member team disguised as police officers, who warned her and her husband that they were in danger. She was accused of helping launder money for a businessman, and said he might order the murder of the couple if he learned she was cooperating with investigators. Even their children were not safe in America.
“They scared me, scared me, scared me,” she said. “They said, ‘We need to put you under surveillance for your safety.'”
He needed to keep his camera on almost constantly inside his New Delhi home. When she got out, she called the station, put the phone in her pocket and continued the call. At night they allowed him to turn off the camera to sleep.
On 26 December, he instructed him to wear a white shirt for a hearing before a Supreme Court judge. He appeared on screen in a black robe with a white collar, sitting at a table surrounded by books.
“They said, ‘You have to cooperate with us, otherwise you will be arrested,'” Taneja said. At one point, the judge even scolded the officers for being too lenient with him.
In 16 days, Taneja falls in love with the officers who change shifts at the fake station. She started calling them her children. In return, they called her “Mother”.
At night he read Hindu religious texts with the youngest officer, who asked him to send him passages he found particularly inspiring.
“They became like family members,” she said. “They said, ‘Madam, we want to clear this as quickly as possible. We are working day and night for you.'”
He sold the investments and withdrew funds from eight accounts. Many of the transfers were worth about $200,000 each.
On January 10, he called the authorities repeatedly, but no one responded. Finally one called back and said that she and her husband had been completely acquitted. They directed him to go to the nearest police station to initiate the refund process.
The officials present there were first confused, then worried by the amount he transferred. Taneja gave police details of the bank accounts to which he had sent the money and the authorities were able to recover approximately $220,000. But they never found out the scammers and all the remaining money was lost.
Taneja is still struggling to understand how she and her husband fell into the trap of scammers for more than two weeks. “We thought the police were trying to protect us,” he said.
Cameron Green’s non-availability as a bowler had trigged a sharp response from KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane (IPL/BCCI)
Cricket Australia have been forced to put out a clarification on why Australian allrounder Cameron Green is not allowed to bowl for his franchise Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026, after skipper Ajinkya Rahane took a swipe at the Australian board when asked about Green’s abstinence from bowling duties during KKR’s opening fixture against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on Sunday.KKR failed to defend a total of 220, with Rahane blaming it on the inexperienced bowling unit and the true nature of the Wankhede track – the same strip which saw nearly 500 runs being scored in the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal between India and England earlier this month.
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KKR have been grappling with injuries, and Rahane conceded that the non-availability of Green as a bowler dented the team’s balance.“I think when hopefully Green starts to bowl soon, the combination will be slightly different,” said Rahane during the post-match interaction. “At the moment, we have to see the balance and who can bowl well for us. Batting-wise, as I said, we batted really well, but finding that balance with the ball is really important. So, hopefully, Green starts to bowl soon, then we can find out whether the combination will be okay.“And when asked why the 26-year-old was not bowling, he shot back, saying, “That question you need to ask Cricket Australia,” leaving the on-air commentators Ravi Shastri and Kevin Pietersen speechless for a bit.However, Cricket Australia responded to Rahane’s remarks, stating that Green is suffering from a lower back injury and KKR were made fully aware of the situation beforehand.“Cameron has a lower back injury which is being managed but requires him to abstain from bowling for a short period,” a CA spokesperson said, as quoted by FOX Sports.“Cameron is currently rebuilding his bowling loads in India with a view to return in around 10–12 days’ time. KKR has been communicated with and is fully aware of this information,” the report further stated, attributing it to the spokesperson.Green, the most expensive buy of the IPL 2026 auction at INR 25.20 Cr, came out to bat at one-down, scoring 18 off 10 balls, but was not pressed into action with the ball as Mumbai Indians batters made merry against an inexperienced KKR bowling unit. Every KKR bowler was taken to the cleaners by Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton of Mumbai Indians, who combined for an opening stand of 148 in just 11.1 overs.Vaibhav Arora was taken for 52 runs in his four overs, while Blessing Muzarabani leaked 34 runs in his three overs. Kartik Tyagi, the impact sub, returned figures of 4-0-43-1. But the biggest letdown for KKR were their spin twins — Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy — who proved ineffective on the Wankhede track, giving away 78 runs between them in seven overs.
Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar has revisited his childhood, mentioning how he had once seen late superstar Rajesh Khanna as a kid, stating that little did he know he would become the superstar’s son-in-law in the years to come.
The recent episode of Wheel of Fortune witnessed a heartfelt moment filled with wisdom as Akshay, who is currently hosting the show, shared an inspiring perspective on life, destiny, and self-belief.
The Khiladi offered a powerful and personal insight, saying that he does not believe in the concept of being “out of someone’s league.”
He further fondly recalled his childhood, sharing, “Yeh baat mujhe aaj bhi yaad hai, jab main chhota tha, mere papa aur mummy mujhe kandhe par bitha kar Carter Road aur Bandstand ghoomane le jaate the. Main bilkul sach keh raha hoon. Aur uss waqt mere father-in-law ki gaadi aati thi, tab woh mere father-in-law nahi the, balki Rajesh Khanna ji the.”
He added, “Hum unhe door se hi dekha karte the. Kisi ne kabhi socha bhi nahi tha ki meri shaadi unki beti se hogi?” something he never imagined back then.
The superstar shared his story when contestant Stuti candidly spoke about feeling that certain people are “out of her league.”
In a lighthearted moment, she went onto reveal that Shah Rukh Khan had always been her crush and jokes that when he married Gauri Khan, it broke her heart.
She added, “Phir baad mein theek hai, Shah Rukh Khan nahi toh Aryan Khan sahi hai. Baad mein wapas laga Aryan Khan bhi bahut hi out of league hai.”
Through his own anecdote, Akshay emphasized that nothing is truly out of reach.
He reassured Stuti that everything aligns in life as per destiny and that one should never limit themselves by believing something is beyond their league.
In his signature witty style, he also added that one never knows she could even end up marrying the son of Donald Trump, highlighting how unpredictable life can be.
For the uninitiated, Akshay Kumar is married to Twinkle Khanna, who is the daughter of late superstar Rajesh Khanna and actress Dimple Kapadia.
The couple who reportedly fell in love on the sets of their movie International Khiladi went on to tie the knot in January 2001.
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
Egyptian official says Liverpool star will fade away if he opts for the MLS as San Diego FC owner welcomes compatriot.
Published On 30 Mar 202630 Mar 2026
Egypt’s national team director Ibrahim Hassan has cautioned Mohamed Salah against moving to Major League Soccer (MLS) after he leaves Liverpool at the end of the season, as it would see the forward fade into obscurity.
Salah, 33, has yet to decide his next move after he ends a hugely successful nine-year spell at Liverpool, where he won two Premier League titles and the Champions League.
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MLS Commissioner Don Garber has said he would love to see Salah in the league, though it is unclear whether any league teams will attempt to sign him.
“Personally, I would prefer him to stay in Europe,” Hassan told On Sports. “I have heard about offers from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Bayern Munich and clubs in the Italian league.
“A move to the Major League? He would be far too out of the spotlight. You won’t remember Salah any more than I remember [Lionel] Messi now, I don’t even try to watch him.”
After trophy-laden stints with Barcelona and PSG, Argentina captain Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023, months after lifting the World Cup, and became the club’s all-time top scorer.
Hassan said the Saudi Pro League would be a suitable option if Salah chose not to stay in Europe.
“If he does not receive offers from Europe, then a move to the Saudi league would be a good option, especially with big names such as Cristiano [Ronaldo],” Hassan, twin brother of Egypt coach Hossam Hassan, added.
However, San Diego FC’s billionaire owner Mohamed Mansour believes his Egyptian compatriot would be an “asset” as speculation builds over the Liverpool forward’s next club.
If he does move to the United States, recent MLS expansion club San Diego FC, who reached the playoff semifinals in their debut season last year, have been heavily linked with Salah, not least due to their British-Egyptian owner, Mansour.
“He’s probably one of the great players today. And any team that will get him, or any country that will get him, he will definitely be an asset,” Mansour told the AFP news agency at a summit in Atlanta on Thursday.
Mansour declined to answer whether he is actively trying to recruit Salah or has previously sounded out a move for the striker.
But he added: “Of course, Mo Salah is somebody that, as an Egyptian, my origin, I’m very proud of. He is somebody that reached the world stage as one of the great players.”
“And I think he will, if he does decide … wherever he will go, he will add a lot to that league and to that country and to that team for sure. So he’s somebody I’m very proud of.”
Mansour said the entire Egypt comes to a halt whenever Salah plays and named the forward as his favourite footballer of all time.
While effusive in his praise for Salah, Mansour insisted that footballing recruitment decisions are left to San Diego FC’s sports director and coach.
“I let the people in charge” decide, he said.
Salah is currently sidelined by injury and will miss Egypt’s ongoing training camp as they prepare for the World Cup in North America.
Egypt face Spain in a friendly in Barcelona on Tuesday after a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Friday.
The seven-time African champions are in Group G with Belgium, New Zealand and Iran at the World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 19.
Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer showcased his football skills in a video recently Instagrammed by PBKS, where he is seen juggling a football 87 times, without letting it touch the floor. His skills should come as no surprise as Iyer’s alma mater is Don Bosco HS, Matunga, which is known to boss age-group football competitions.
As Aditya Dhar is basking in the record-breaking success of Dhurandhar 2, the film has been receiving overwhelming praise from fans, critics and industry alike. Joining the suit is director Vivek Agnihotri, who has now praised the film and also offered some `unsolicited` but important advice to the director.
Vivek Agnihotri praises Dhurandhar: The Revenge
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Vivek Agnihotri shared a note applauding Dhurandhar: The Revenge and its team. He shared that he made a special trip from California to Los Angeles just to watch the film, highlighting how highly he regarded the project. He called the film “brilliant once again,” however, he avoided overanalysing it on social media, saying he would rather call` Dhar.
“I was in the countryside of California, and finally made a trip to LA just to watch Dhurandhar. Shabash. Bravo. Brilliant once again, AdityaDharFilms. I genuinely don’t know what to say… anything I add may only become noise over something that already speaks for itself. I’d rather call you.”
Dhurandhar: The Revenge
I was in the countryside of California, finally made a trip to LA just to watch Dhurandhar.
Shabash. Bravo. Brilliant once again, @AdityaDharFilms. I genuinely don’t know what to say… anything I add may only become noise over something that already…
— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) March 30, 2026
The filmmaker further went beyond general praise and brought spotlight on two often underappreciated aspects of filmmaking. He wrote, “Everyone has done exceptional work. But I want to specifically acknowledge two less celebrated crafts that elevate this film into something far greater: Vikash Nowlakha’s world-class cinematography, and sainisjohray’s exceptional production design.”
“In cinema, the camera and production design are married to each other. Unless both are in complete harmony, a film cannot rise to the level of a masterpiece. In Dhurandhar, what we witness is pure synergy. Both Vikash and Saini Johray have done groundbreaking work… work that will stand as a benchmark for a long time. My heartfelt best to both of you. And a special salute,” he added.
Vivek Agnihotri`s advice for Aditya Dhar
However, his closing remark to Aditya Dhar was what caught everyone`s attention. He offered advice from personal experience, saying, “You are sharp, and you know your path. Just stay mindful of the ecosystem, it can be as vicious as it is seductive.”
He concluded his note by praising Team Dhurandhar, saying, “And everyone else in TeamDhurandhar, you rock.”
In the world of investing, finding the “Goldilocks Zone”—a portfolio that isn’t too aggressive to cause sleepless nights, yet isn’t too conservative to miss out on wealth creation—is the ultimate goal. For many Indian investors, the choice has traditionally been a binary one: pick a volatile pure-equity mutual fund or a low-yielding debt fund.
The Edelweiss 70:30 Index Fund is designed for investors who want the growth of mid-caps but are wary of the volatility that comes with them.
Here is an explainer on why this new New Fund Offer (NFO) is grabbing headlines and how it fits into your investment strategy.
What is the Edelweiss 70:30 Index Fund?
It is an open-ended scheme that tracks a customised index comprising 70% equity and 30% debt. Unlike active hybrid funds where a fund manager decides when to move between asset classes based on market outlook, this fund follows a strict, transparent, rule-based mandate.
The Equity Component
The equity portion of the fund doesn’t just track the Nifty 50. Instead, it invests in the Nifty LargeMidcap 250 Index. This index provides a 50:50 weightage to both large-cap and mid-cap stocks.
Large-Caps for Stability: The top 100 companies provide a solid foundation and lower volatility.
Mid-Caps for Alpha: The 150 mid-cap companies offer higher growth potential, capturing the “rising stars” of the Indian economy.
By splitting the weight equally, the fund reduces the risk of being over-reliant on a few mega-cap stocks, providing broader exposure to India’s structural growth.
The Sovereign Safety Net
The debt portion is invested entirely in 8-13 year G-Secs. According to Edelweiss Mutual Fund, this duration sits at the “sweet spot” of the yield curve.
Zero Credit Risk: Since these are sovereign bonds, there is no risk of default.
Shock Absorber: Historically, G-Secs have a low correlation with equities. When the stock market crashes, G-Secs often hold their value or even appreciate, acting as a crucial buffer.
Monthly Rebalancing
One of the biggest hurdles for retail investors is emotional bias—buying when the market is at an all-time high and panic-selling during a crash.
The Edelweiss 70:30 Index Fund solves this through Disciplined Monthly Rebalancing. Every month, the fund automatically resets the ratio. If equities have performed well and now make up 75% of the portfolio, the fund sells the excess equity and buys debt. Conversely, if the market dips, it automatically buys more equity at lower prices. This “buy low, sell high” mechanism is hard-coded into the fund, removing human emotion from the equation.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
The primary selling point of this strategy is its risk-return ratio. Data over the last 10 years highlights a compelling narrative for the 70:30 index:
Superior Returns: The index delivered an average 10-year rolling CAGR of 14.36%, outperforming the Large-cap category average of 14.09%.
Lower Volatility: While it outperformed on returns, it did so with much less “bumpiness”. The standard deviation (a measure of risk) for the 70:30 index was just 9.31%, compared to 15.01% for the large-cap category.
The 1.42X Advantage: This results in a risk-return ratio of 1.42X, which is 69% better than traditional large-cap funds.
Investors get equity-like returns with roughly 40% lower volatility.
The true value of a hybrid strategy is seen during market crises. During the covid crash of 2020, the G-Secs component absorbed the market shocks, leading to a shallower drawdown compared to pure equity funds. This protection allows for a swifter portfolio recovery, helping investors stay invested for the long term.
Who should invest?
This fund is designed for investors who want the growth of mid-caps but are wary of the volatility that comes with them. It is ideal for:
First-time equity investors: Those looking for a smoother entry into the stock market.
Long-term wealth creators: Investors looking for a “core” portfolio holding that rebalances itself.
Conservative equity investors: Those who want to outperform large-cap benchmarks without taking on 100% equity risk.
The Edelweiss Nifty LargeMidcap 250 Plus 8-13 yr G-Sec 70:30 Index Fund represents a shift toward “smart passive” investing in India. By combining the growth of the top 250 companies with the safety of sovereign bonds and the discipline of monthly rebalancing, it offers a compelling alternative to traditional active mutual funds.
The craze for Dhurandhar: The Revenge continues to soar, with every character in the film receiving equal love and recognition from the audience. Actor Udaybir Sandhu, who portrayed Ranveer Singh’s childhood friend and a drug dealer, recently shared a heartfelt note expressing gratitude to filmmaker Aditya Dhar for placing his faith in him. He also praised Ranveer for his unwavering support on set, calling him a “true brother” and appreciating his humility, adding that the star never once showed any ego despite his stature.
Udaybir Sandhu shared an emotional message for Ranveer Singh and Aditya Dhar amid Dhurandhar The Revenge success.
On Sunday, Udaybir took to Instagram and shared some BTS pictures from the sets of Dhurandhar 2. The photos featured him posing with Ranveer and Aditya for the camera. Along with the pictures, he penned a gratitude note which read, “I’ve been trying to put this into words, but honestly… a thank you feels too small. 🤍 @adityadharfilms I’ll always carry your faith and your kindness with me. From day one, you truly made me feel like I belonged. The way you guide, protect, and uplift your people is rare… and something I’ll always admire.”
Further calling Aditya his mentor in the truest sense, Udaybir wrote, “You’ve been a mentor in the truest sense, and at times genuinely like an older brother… always looking out, always encouraging, always pushing me to do better. Your patience, your guidance, and the calm confidence you bring to the chaos of a film set is something I’ve learned so much from. A big thank you for trusting me, for giving me Pinda, and for giving me a moment I’ll cherish forever. The best kind of director… and an even better human.”
He also heaped praise on Ranveer for supporting him throughout the shoot like a brother and said he would always remember his humility. Udaybir wrote, “To @ranveersingh, Dhurandhar gave me a lot… but working with you, Ranveer bhai, was truly one of the best parts. 🤍 Thank you for being so kind, so genuinely supportive, and so generous on set. You didn’t have to, but you always made sure I was comfortable and supported. You helped me and guided me without making it obvious, never once made me feel small, never once made it about ego.”
He concluded, “As someone who’s still learning and growing, that meant more than you probably realise. Bhai, you really took care of me like a true brother and I’m honestly really grateful I got to share the screen with you. Mad respect & love for you always mere Jassiiii.”
About Dhurandhar: The Revenge’s success
The film has been shattering box-office records since the day of its release. The spy action thriller collected ₹145 crore on its opening day. In just 11 days, the film has already surpassed the lifetime collection of its predecessor and overtaken several major films like RRR, Kalki 2898 AD, Jawan, Pathaan and the Hindi version haul of Pushpa 2.
The film’s total domestic collection now stands at ₹846.87 crore, while its worldwide collection has reached ₹1,361.95 crore.
Helmed by Aditya Dhar, the film stars Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, Rakesh Bedi and Sara Arjun in lead roles, along with Udaybir Sandhu, Danish Pandor and Mustafa Ahmed, among others, in key roles.
