Third Battle of Panipat The Third Battle of Panipat took place on 14 January 1761, at Panipat, about 60 miles north of Delhi between Maratha and the King of Afghanistan, Ahmad Shah Abdali , supported by two Indian Muslim allies—the Rohilla Pathans of the Ganga-Jamuna Doab, and Shuja-ud-Daula , the Nawab of Awadh . The battle is considered one of the largest and bloodiest fought in the 18th century with the largest number of fatalities in a single day. Ahmad Shah Abdali leading the Jehadi Army of Afghans Slaughter of Marathas The Marathas, under the command of Sadashiv Rao Bhau , responded to Afghan invasion by gathering an army of between 45,000–60,000, which was accompanied by roughly 100,000 non-combatants, a number of whom were family members desirous of making pilgrimages to Hindu holy sites in northern India. Slaughter of Marathas in Panipat The forces led by Ahmad Shah Durrani (Abdali) came out victorious after destroying several Maratha flanks. Most of Maratha le