In the Second Battle of Panipat fought in 1556, which Afghan general and claimant to the throne was defeated by the Mughal forces of Akbar?

Introduction / Context:
The Second Battle of Panipat is a key event in Mughal history because it helped secure the throne for the young emperor Akbar after a period of instability. The battle pitted the Mughal army, led in practice by Akbar regent Bairam Khan, against a powerful Afghan commander who had captured Delhi and assumed a royal title. This question tests whether you can correctly name that rival leader who was defeated at Panipat in 1556.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The battle is the Second Battle of Panipat in 1556.
• The Mughal side fought in the name of Akbar.
• The rival was an Afghan general who had briefly taken control of Delhi.
• The options list Genghis Khan, Nader Shah, Hemu Vikramaditya, Baji Rao I, and Sher Shah Suri.
• You need to identify the correct opponent of the Mughals in this battle.

Concept / Approach:
After Humayun death, Akbar inherited a fragile position. An Afghan leader, Hemu, rose to power by serving the Sur rulers and then asserting his own claim. He captured Delhi and adopted the title Vikramaditya. In 1556, the Mughal army confronted him at Panipat. During the battle, Hemu was wounded and captured, and the Mughal victory ensured Akbar continued rule. The other figures listed in the options are from different times and contexts and did not fight Akbar at Panipat in 1556.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Fix the date and name of the battle: the Second Battle of Panipat took place in 1556. Step 2: Recall that the Mughal side was led by Bairam Khan on behalf of the young emperor Akbar. Step 3: Recognise that the opponent was Hemu, an Afghan general who had captured Delhi and proclaimed himself ruler using the title Vikramaditya. Step 4: During the battle, Hemu was struck in the eye by an arrow, fell unconscious, and his army lost heart, leading to a decisive Mughal victory. Step 5: Compare this with the options: Genghis Khan and Nader Shah belong to other centuries, Baji Rao I was a Maratha leader of a much later period, and Sher Shah Suri had died earlier. Step 6: Therefore, the only correct opponent at the Second Battle of Panipat in 1556 is Hemu Vikramaditya.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard timelines of Mughal history list three battles of Panipat: in 1526 between Babur and Ibrahim Lodi, in 1556 between Akbar forces and Hemu, and in 1761 between Ahmad Shah Abdali and the Marathas. Detailed accounts of the 1556 battle consistently name Hemu as the rival commander. None of the other figures in the options are linked with this battle in reliable historical works, which confirms that Hemu Vikramaditya is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Genghis Khan: He was a thirteenth century Mongol conqueror who never fought in Mughal India and lived long before 1556.

Nader Shah: He was an eighteenth century Persian ruler known for invading India and plundering Delhi in 1739, not for fighting Akbar.
Baji Rao I: He was an eighteenth century Maratha Peshwa and does not belong to the Mughal Afghan struggles of the sixteenth century.
Sher Shah Suri: He defeated Humayun earlier and died before the Second Battle of Panipat, so he could not have fought Akbar forces in 1556.

Common Pitfalls:
A common source of confusion is mixing up the different battles of Panipat and their opponents. Some students also confuse Sher Shah Suri earlier conflicts with the later battle against Hemu. A good way to remember is to link 1526 with Babur and Ibrahim Lodi, 1556 with Akbar and Hemu, and 1761 with Abdali and the Marathas. This simple timeline helps avoid mixing up names across battles.

Final Answer:
In the Second Battle of Panipat in 1556, the Mughal forces of Akbar defeated Hemu Vikramaditya.