The First Battle of Panipat in 1526 was fought between the Lodi Afghan forces and which Central Asian ruler who later founded the Mughal empire in India.

Introduction / Context:
The First Battle of Panipat, fought in 1526, is a landmark event in Indian history because it marked the end of the Delhi Sultanate under the Lodi dynasty and the beginning of Mughal rule in North India. The question examines a basic yet very important fact: which ruler from Central Asia defeated the Lodi forces in this battle and went on to lay the foundations of the Mughal empire. This is a typical recall question that every student of Indian history should know.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The battle referred to is the First Battle of Panipat. • The year of the battle is given as 1526. • One side in the battle was the Lodi Empire, ruled by Ibrahim Lodi. • The question asks for the name of the opposing ruler.

Concept / Approach:
The approach is to connect three key facts: the First Battle of Panipat, the defeat of Ibrahim Lodi, and the founder of the Mughal empire. Zahir ud din Muhammad Babur, a Timurid prince from Central Asia, led a relatively small but well organised army equipped with field artillery and matchlock guns. He defeated the much larger Lodi army by tactical use of artillery and defensive formations. Therefore, when we see a question linking the Lodi empire, the year 1526, and Panipat, we should immediately think of Babur.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the First Battle of Panipat was fought between the forces of Ibrahim Lodi and an invading Central Asian ruler. Step 2: Identify the invader as Babur, who came from the region of Kabul and Ferghana. Step 3: Note that after his victory, Babur captured Delhi and Agra and laid the foundation of Mughal power in India. Step 4: Examine the options. Humayun and Akbar were Babur and Humayun descendants, and Aurangzeb was a much later Mughal emperor. Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun later but did not fight at Panipat in 1526. Step 5: Conclude that Babur is the only correct choice.

Verification / Alternative check:
History books on the Mughal period always begin with Babur and the First Battle of Panipat in 1526. The battle is described as a decisive encounter where Babur used field artillery and the tulughma tactic, dividing his army into left, right, and centre with flanking forces. Ibrahim Lodi was killed in battle, ending the Lodi dynasty. No other ruler listed in the options fits these historical facts, so Babur is confirmed as the correct answer beyond doubt.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Humayun: He was Babur son and the second Mughal emperor. He fought the Second Battle of Panipat era enemies but did not fight the First Battle of Panipat. Akbar: He was the third Mughal emperor and came to the throne later, famous for the Second Battle of Panipat in 1556 against Hemu, not the 1526 battle. Aurangzeb: A much later Mughal emperor of the seventeenth century, not associated with battles at Panipat. Sher Shah Suri: An Afghan ruler who defeated Humayun and briefly interrupted Mughal rule, but he was not involved in the First Battle of Panipat in 1526.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse the three Battles of Panipat, each involving different opponents and time periods. Mixing up Akbar and Babur is another frequent error. To avoid this, remember a simple timeline: First Battle of Panipat in 1526 between Babur and Ibrahim Lodi; Second Battle of Panipat in 1556 between Akbar forces and Hemu; Third Battle of Panipat in 1761 between the Marathas and Ahmad Shah Abdali. Fixing this sequence in memory helps answer Panipat related questions accurately.

Final Answer:
The First Battle of Panipat in 1526 was fought between the Lodi Afghan forces and Babur, who went on to found the Mughal empire in India.