On January 14, 1761, the Maratha army marched toward the Afghan camp in an attempt to break the siege at Panipat. Although both armies were weakened by difficult conditions and were of nearly equal strength, the Marathas initially gained the advantage by pushing back Ahmad Shah Durraniβs forces on the right and center. Their early success was undermined by poor coordination among their military units, ineffective tactics, and the need to protect civilians. Later in the afternoon, the Afghans added about 5,000 fresh cavalry, which enabled them to gain a considerable advantage over the Marathas. Once the leadership collapsed, the Maratha army was unable to organize a retreat, and the Afghan forces pursued the fleeing soldiers to secure victory.
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