The Battle of Pratapgad took place on 10 November 1659, at Pratapgad in Satara. The battle was fought between the Maratha forces led by Shivaji Maharaj and the Bijapur troops under General Afzal Khan. The Marathas emerged victorious, marking their first significant military triumph against a major regional power. In the aftermath of this victory Shivaji captured 65 elephants, 4,000 horses, 1,200 camels and 1,000,000 rupees of cash and jewellery.

In response to Shivaji's incursions and fort captures in the Konkan region, Ali Adil Shah II, ruler of the Sultanate of Bijapur, appointed Afzal Khan with 10,000 horsemen to confront him. The official history of Ali Adil shah's reign, the Tarikh-e-Ali, suggests that Ali Adilshah ordered Afzal Khan to eliminate Shivaji, viewing him as a threat to Islam. Although some sources suggest that the intention was to capture Shivaji alive, the Tarikh-e-Ali remains the most reliable account. Despite initial reluctance from other generals, Afzal Khan volunteered for the mission, demonstrating his confidence in subduing Shivaji. The force dispatched under Afzal Khan's command numbered around 10,000 cavalry, as documented in the Tarikh-e-Ali. Notable noblemen and soldiers, including Ambar Khan, Yakut Khan, and Musa Khan, were assigned to serve under Afzal Khan's leadership. This appointment marked a significant escalation in the conflict between Shivaji and the Sultanate of Bijapur.

Afzal Khan departed from Bijapur around May 1659 on a campaign against Shivaji. While enroute to Wai, conflicting accounts suggest that he desecrated the idol of Bhavani at Tuljapur and the idol of Vithoba at Pandharpur. These acts of vandalism aimed to humiliate Shivaji, as documented by various sources, including the Sabhasad Chronicle and the Shivakavya.

Although the exact reasons for Afzal Khan's journey to Wai remain unclear, the Shivabharat suggests that it was prompted by Prataprao's betrayal of Shivaji's stronghold, Jawali, to the Sultanate of Bijapur. Afzal Khan viewed capturing Jawali as a strategic move to gain control over the Wai region, the Sahyadri mountains, and the coastal areas. Additionally, Afzal Khan's possession of the Wai Pargana since 1649 likely influenced his decision to use Wai as a base for his operations against Shivaji. Afzal Khan's arrival at Wai marked a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Shivaji and the Sultanate of Bijapur, leading to a pivotal confrontation between the two adversaries.

Upon Afzal Khan's departure for Wai, Ali Adilshah issued farmans (royal decrees) to the deshmukhs (local rulers) in the Maval region, instructing them to join Afzal Khan's campaign against Shivaji. These farmans aimed to gather support for Afzal Khan's mission to confront Shivaji's incursions in the region.

One such farman issued to Kanhoji Jedhe, a deshmukh in the Maval region, emphasized the importance of obedience to Afzal Khan's authority and the eradication of Shivaji's forces. Failure to comply with Afzal Khan's orders would result in severe consequences, as stated in the farman. In response to receiving the farman, Kanhoji Jedhe, along with his sons, sought counsel from Shivaji at Rajgad. Despite the potential jeopardy to his watan (land and property), Kanhoji remained steadfast in his allegiance to Shivaji, renouncing his watan and pledging his loyalty to the Maratha leader.

Meanwhile, Shivaji mobilized his forces, ordering his cavalry commander Netaji Palkar to lay waste to enemy territory while he himself led his infantry to Jawali. Shivaji's strategic manoeuvres and alliances with local leaders demonstrated his readiness to confront the advancing Adilshah forces. On 12 July 1659, Shivaji arrived in Jawali, marking a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Shivaji and the Sultanate of Bijapur. These preliminary moves set the stage for a pivotal confrontation between Shivaji and Afzal Khan's forces at Wai.

During the conflict between Afzal Khan and Shivaji, both sides engaged in incursions into each other's territories. According to the Tarikh-e-Ali, Afzal Khan's forces swiftly entered Shivaji's territory under orders from Ali Adilshah. The account uses metaphorical language to describe the invasion, mentioning the thunderous sounds of drums and the dust kicked up by horses, but lacks detailed information. The Shivabharat provides a clearer picture, stating that while Shivaji prepared to confront Afzal Khan at Jawali, Afzal Khan's commanders launched attacks into Shivaji's provinces. These assaults resulted in Yadav attacking Supe, Pandhare invading Shirwal, Kharade advancing into Saswad, Siddi Hilal targeting Pune, and Saif Khan penetrating Konkan, previously occupied by Shivaji's forces.