How did 300 Marathas defeat 30,000 Afghans?

The story of how 300 Maratha soldiers defeated 30,000 Afghans is one of the most awe-inspiring yet lesser-known tales of Indian military history. This dramatic episode took place in 1761, shortly after the catastrophic Third Battle of Panipat, in which the Maratha Empire suffered a major defeat at the hands of Ahmad Shah Abdali (also known as Ahmad Shah Durrani), the Afghan ruler and founder of the Durrani Empire. Despite the scale of the loss at Panipat, a small band of Maratha warriors showed extraordinary bravery, discipline, and tactical brilliance in a rearguard action that stunned the much larger Afghan army.

The Third Battle of Panipat, fought on 14 January 1761, marked a turning point in Indian history. The Marathas, led by Sadashivrao Bhau and his commander-in-chief Vishwasrao, faced Ahmad Shah Abdali’s coalition of Afghans, Rohillas, and other regional allies. Despite fighting valiantly, the Marathas suffered a devastating defeat, with tens of thousands of their soldiers and followers either killed or captured.

As the remnants of the shattered Maratha army began retreating southward, the region was filled with chaos. Afghan forces roamed northern India to mop up remaining resistance and plunder wealth. It was during this tumultuous time that a small Maratha contingent led by Senapati Babuji Naik, or Sadashivrao Jadhav in some accounts, decided to stand their ground and fight back against overwhelming odds.

The now-legendary confrontation reportedly took place near Kopargaon in present-day Maharashtra. A force of approximately 300 elite Maratha soldiers, possibly from the Bargir (light cavalry) division, encountered an Afghan detachment of up to 30,000 men, which was marching south after Panipat.

While some details of the encounter are debated and not recorded in great depth in Persian or Afghan sources, Maratha oral traditions and Marathi historical chronicles recount a fierce battle in which this tiny group of Marathas inflicted heavy casualties on the Afghans and forced their retreat.

One of the key reasons the Marathas were able to win such an improbable battle was their tactical brilliance. Even when heavily outnumbered, the Marathas were masters of guerrilla warfare, an art they had perfected under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj a century earlier. Rather than engaging in frontal assaults, they used:

• Ambush tactics in difficult terrain
• Hit-and-run raids to confuse and exhaust the enemy
• Night attacks and decoys to disorient the larger force
• Strategic knowledge of the local geography

Using these tactics, the Marathas were able to isolate smaller groups of Afghan soldiers, cut off their supplies, and launch precision strikes, causing maximum damage with minimal losses.

Another vital factor was morale. The Afghan forces, though numerically superior, were weary and scattered after their massive campaign in North India. Many were demoralized, overextended, and operating in hostile territory.

In contrast, the Maratha warriors—despite just witnessing a catastrophic loss at Panipat—fought with a deep sense of duty, vengeance, and honor. These 300 men saw themselves as defenders of their homeland, and their determination gave them the psychological edge. They were also better motivated to fight on familiar ground, defending the Deccan heartland.

The Maratha soldiers involved in this confrontation were not ordinary recruits. Many belonged to the elite cavalry units, trained extensively in speed, mobility, swordsmanship, and marksmanship. Even in small numbers, such troops were capable of wreaking havoc on much larger, less disciplined armies.

Their unity of command, tight formations, and ability to fight as a cohesive unit further contributed to their success. Unlike many larger forces, where coordination breaks down during chaos, the Marathas maintained control and discipline throughout.

Though this battle didn’t have the strategic impact of Panipat, it became a symbol of Maratha resilience. At a time when the empire was thought to be finished, stories of this resistance inspired other commanders and regions to regroup and rebuild.

In the years following Panipat, the Marathas recovered rapidly. By the 1770s and 1780s, they had regained much of their influence in northern India, culminating in the rise of leaders like Mahadji Shinde (Scindia), who restored Maratha prestige in Delhi and beyond.

This episode served as a reminder that the spirit of the Marathas was never defeated, even when facing impossible odds.

The story of how 300 Marathas defeated 30,000 Afghans is not merely a tale of military tactics—it is a lesson in valor, discipline, and patriotism. In a world where victory is often equated with size and strength, the Marathas proved that courage, strategy, and unity can triumph against overwhelming odds. This battle, preserved in the collective memory of Maharashtra, continues to inspire generations with its message of standing firm even in the darkest hours.