The correct answer is: B. Abdali and Maratha
The Second Battle of Panipat was fought on 14 January 1761, near Panipat, about 97 km (60 mi) north of Delhi, between the Maratha Empire and the invading Afghan army of Ahmad Shah Durrani. The battle was a decisive victory for the Afghans, and it marked the end of the Maratha Empire’s expansionist ambitions.
The Maratha Empire was a Hindu confederacy that had emerged in the 17th century in the Deccan Plateau of India. The Marathas were led by a series of powerful warrior-chiefs, known as Peshwas, who had conquered much of northern India by the early 18th century.
In 1757, the Marathas invaded the Punjab region of northern India, which was then ruled by the Afghan Empire. The Afghans were led by Ahmad Shah Durrani, who had recently overthrown the Mughal Empire and established himself as the ruler of Afghanistan.
The Marathas and the Afghans met in battle at Panipat on 14 January 1761. The Maratha army was much larger than the Afghan army, but the Afghans were better equipped and had a more experienced commander. The battle lasted for several hours, and the Marathas were eventually defeated.
The Second Battle of Panipat was a major turning point in Indian history. It marked the end of the Maratha Empire’s expansionist ambitions, and it led to the decline of the Mughal Empire. The battle also had a significant impact on the development of the Sikh Empire, which emerged in the Punjab region in the aftermath of the battle.
The other options are incorrect because:
- Option A is incorrect because the First Battle of Panipat was fought between Babur and Ibrahim Lodhi in 1526.
- Option C is incorrect because Hemu was a Hindu general who fought against Akbar in the Battle of Delhi in 1556.
- Option D is incorrect because Maharana Pratap was a Rajput ruler who fought against Akbar in the Battle of Haldighati in 1576.