The Peshwa sent an army to challenge the Afghan led alliance of Indian muslims that included Rohillas, Shujah-ud-dowlah, Nujeeb-ud-dowlah, and the Maratha army was decisively defeated on January 14, 1761 at the Third Battle of Panipat. The marathas were abandoned by Suraj Mal and Rajputs who quit the maratha alliance at a decisive moment leading to the great battle. Their supply chains cut off, the marathas attacked the Afghans in an act of desperation as their forces had not had a meal in three days. The defeat at Paniput checked Maratha expansion and fragmented the empire. extracted from wikipedia.
