In the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, the Mughal ruler Babur faced the armies of which ruler of the Delhi Sultanate?

Introduction / Context:
The First Battle of Panipat, fought in 1526, is one of the turning points in Indian history because it marks the beginning of Mughal rule in North India. This question tests your knowledge of which ruler of the Delhi Sultanate confronted Babur on the battlefield. Understanding who opposed Babur helps you link dynastic change, military technology like gunpowder, and the decline of the Afghan Lodi dynasty.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The battle referred to is the First Battle of Panipat in 1526.
• Babur was the invading Timurid ruler from Kabul who wanted to establish control in North India.
• The opponent was the then ruler of the Delhi Sultanate.
• Options list several well known figures from medieval Indian history, including Ibrahim Lodi and other powerful north Indian leaders.

Concept / Approach:
To answer, you need to recall which dynasty ruled Delhi just before the Mughals. The Lodi dynasty, an Afghan ruling house, controlled the Delhi Sultanate in the early sixteenth century. Ibrahim Lodi, the last Lodi sultan, faced Babur at Panipat. Other names in the options Jaichand, Hemu, Daulat Khan Lodi and Rana Sanga are important but linked to different episodes and time frames. The concept is to connect the correct ruler and dynasty with this specific battle.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the battle as the First Battle of Panipat (1526), not later battles. Step 2: Recall that the ruling dynasty in Delhi at this time was the Lodi dynasty. Step 3: Remember that Ibrahim Lodi was the last Lodi sultan and personally led his forces against Babur. Step 4: Check the options and locate Ibrahim Lodi among them. Step 5: Confirm that none of the other figures were ruling Delhi at that moment, so Ibrahim Lodi must be the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
A useful cross check is to recall what the outcome of the battle was. Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi, who died on the battlefield, leading to the end of the Delhi Sultanate under the Lodi dynasty and the establishment of Mughal rule. If you remember that Ibrahim Lodi was killed at Panipat by Babur's forces, it confirms that he is the ruler in question. None of the other listed personalities are described in standard history texts as having died while defending the Delhi throne at Panipat in 1526.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Jaichand: A Gahadavala ruler associated with the time of Prithviraj Chauhan, centuries before Babur, not a Lodi sultan at Panipat.
Hemu: A later general and ruler in the sixteenth century, defeated by Akbar's forces at the Second Battle of Panipat, not by Babur in the first battle.
Daulat Khan Lodi: A regional Afghan noble who actually invited Babur to intervene in North India, not the reigning Delhi sultan at Panipat.
Rana Sanga: The Rajput ruler of Mewar who later fought Babur at Khanwa, not at the First Battle of Panipat as the Delhi Sultan.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse the different Panipat battles and the personalities involved. Hemu is linked to the Second Battle of Panipat, while Ibrahim Lodi belongs to the first. Another mistake is mixing up Daulat Khan Lodi, a noble, with Ibrahim Lodi, the sultan. To avoid this, always connect the First Battle of Panipat with Babur versus Ibrahim Lodi and the end of the Lodi dynasty.

Final Answer:
In the First Battle of Panipat, Babur fought against Ibrahim Lodi.