The First Battle of Panipat in 1526, which marked the beginning of Mughal rule in north India, was fought between Babur and which Sultan of Delhi?

Introduction / Context:
The First Battle of Panipat is one of the most important battles in Indian history because it ended the rule of the Delhi Sultanate under the Lodis and cleared the way for the establishment of the Mughal Empire. The battle was fought between Babur, the Timurid ruler from Kabul, and the incumbent Sultan of Delhi. This question asks you to recall the name of that Sultan, a basic but crucial fact for understanding sixteenth century north Indian politics.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The battle took place in 1526 and is known as the First Battle of Panipat.
• Babur was the invading commander on one side.
• The opponent was the then ruling Sultan of Delhi from the Lodi dynasty.
• The options include Rana Sanga, Muhammad bin Tughlaq, Hemu, Ibrahim Lodi, and Sikandar Lodi.
• You must pick the correct name associated with Babur opponent in this battle.

Concept / Approach:
The Lodi dynasty was the last dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate. Ibrahim Lodi, its final ruler, faced internal rebellion and external threats. Some Afghan nobles, dissatisfied with him, invited Babur to intervene. Babur marched into India and confronted Ibrahim Lodi at Panipat. The resulting battle led to Ibrahim death and the collapse of Lodi rule. Although Rana Sanga and Babur later confronted each other at Khanwa, he was not Babur opponent at Panipat in 1526, and the other names relate to different periods or battles.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Fix the event: First Battle of Panipat in 1526 between Babur and the Delhi Sultan. Step 2: Recall that at this time the Lodi dynasty was ruling Delhi, with Ibrahim Lodi as the Sultan. Step 3: Understand that Babur victory in this battle resulted in the death of Ibrahim Lodi on the battlefield. Step 4: Identify that Rana Sanga, while an important Rajput ruler, faced Babur at the later Battle of Khanwa in 1527, not at Panipat in 1526. Step 5: Muhammad bin Tughlaq and Sikandar Lodi belonged to earlier periods of the Delhi Sultanate, and Hemu was Babur grandson Akbar opponent at the Second Battle of Panipat in 1556. Step 6: Therefore, Ibrahim Lodi is the only correct opponent of Babur at the First Battle of Panipat.

Verification / Alternative check:
When you review concise charts of major battles in Indian history, you will usually see the First Battle of Panipat described as Babur versus Ibrahim Lodi in 1526, followed by the Battle of Khanwa between Babur and Rana Sanga, and the Second Battle of Panipat between Akbar forces and Hemu. This clearly places Ibrahim Lodi as Babur opponent at Panipat in 1526 and removes any ambiguity about the other names in the options.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Rana Sanga: He opposed Babur at the Battle of Khanwa in 1527, not at Panipat in 1526.

Muhammad bin Tughlaq: He was a fourteenth century Sultan from the Tughlaq dynasty, ruling long before Babur invasion.
Hemu: He fought the Mughal forces of Akbar in the Second Battle of Panipat in 1556, not the first battle in 1526.
Sikandar Lodi: He was an earlier Lodi ruler and died before the First Battle of Panipat, which involved his successor Ibrahim Lodi.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to mix up the various Panipat battles and the different opponents associated with Babur and Akbar. Some learners also confuse later conflicts with Rana Sanga or Hemu with the first confrontation at Panipat. To prevent this, memorise a simple pattern: 1526 Babur versus Ibrahim Lodi, 1556 Akbar versus Hemu, and 1761 Ahmad Shah Abdali versus the Marathas. This helps keep the key names aligned with the correct battles.

Final Answer:
The First Battle of Panipat in 1526 was fought between Babur and Ibrahim Lodi.