Peshwa Bajirao I revitalized the Maratha military by adapting Shivaji’s guerrilla principles for large-scale offensive operations. Unlike Shivaji, who focused on hill forts, Bajirao utilized the “light cavalry” to maintain extreme mobility. He mastered the art of outmaneuvering enemies, as seen in the Battle of Palkhed, where he forced the Nizam into a trap without a major frontal confrontation. By avoiding slow-moving siege warfare and prioritizing speed and surprise, Bajirao ensured that the Maratha army remained the most potent and elusive fighting force in 18th-century India, carrying the empire far beyond the Deccan.