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Vishwasrao Bhat (27 July 1742 – 14 January 1761) was the eldest son and heir of Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao of the Maratha Empire. From early in his life, he was trained in administrative matters and exposed to military training since childhood. He died while fighting on the front lines during the Third Battle of Panipat.
Vishwasrao received training in administration and warfare from the age of 8 years. As per information found in Peshwa Daftar and Nanasaheb Peshwa's letters Shrimant Vishwasrao Peshwa regularly practiced Kushti (wrestling) with local champions at the "akhada" (gym) of the Peshwas. He impressed the Maratha infantry as a skilled swordsman and archer. Writer Kaustubh Kasture states in his book Sakalraj Karya Dhurandar Sadashivrao Bhausaheb that Sadashivrao Bhau, his paternal uncle, made sure that Vishwasrao took military training. According to some sources, Nanasaheb Peshwa introduced regular army training and added the best armour to the Maratha army.
Vishwasrao married Lakshmibai, the daughter of Hari Balkrushn Dikshit-Patwardhan, on 2 May 1750.9788192237985 . ISBN 9788192237985 His second wife was Radhikabai.
He then fought a series of militant campaigns to reduce Mughal rule in India, after several battles Vishwasrao was able to conspire the assassination of the Mughal emperor Alamgir II, after which he attempted to place himself upon the throne in Delhi.
He was the nominal Commander of Maratha Forces and the Peshwa's representative during the Third Battle of Panipat (1761) under the guidance and leadership of his uncle Sadashivrao Bhau. At the time of the battle, the Maratha Empire controlled about two-thirds of the Indian subcontinent (including areas of the modern Republic of India and Pakistan).
On the final day of the battle, during the period of the most intense fighting (approximately 01:00–02:30 pm), Vishwasrao was first hit by an arrow which injured his shoulder and then shot in his head while lying down by a bullet fired by a Pashtuns officer and died fighting on the front lines. As per British historian Grant Duff, upon hearing about Shrimant Vishwasrao's death, Malharrao Holkar retreated from the field with at least 10,000 soldiers and , taking men of significance like Damaji Gaikwad with him. He went to Delhi and asked people of significance to vacate the city.
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