Important Battles question: Who defeated the Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat (1761)?

The verified answer to “Important Battles question: Who defeated the Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat (1761)?” is Ahmad Shah Abdali, option B. The source-backed, question-specific record explains: The Third Battle of Panipat was fought on January 14, 1761, between the Maratha Empire (led by Viswasrao and Bhau Sahib) and the Durrani Empire of Ahmed Shah Abdali (also known as Ahmad Shah Durrani). The Marathas suffered a massive defeat. This evidence establishes the historical relationship required in this Important Battles item. A correct solution must preserve the exact battle, date, participants, commander, location, outcome or significance requested by the stem. Similar periods, genres or national traditions do not make two battle facts interchangeable. Option B gives Ahmad Shah Abdali and satisfies every condition stated in the question. The remaining choices—Nadir Shah, Aurangzeb and Nizam of Hyderabad—do not satisfy the complete requirement. The reliable checking method is to identify the named battle first, recall or verify its verified participant or outcome, and then read qualifiers such as “both works,” “original language,” “first published,” “correctly matched” or “incorrectly matched.” These qualifiers determine what counts as the answer. Replaying that method for this Important Battles question confirms Ahmad Shah Abdali without relying on option position.