On 23 February 1739 at 1 pm, he began advancing towards Nader Shah's army. Shah's army shot arrows at Khan and his troops, and Khan charged them. The Persian army strategically retreated, leaving their weapons. Khan thought that they had fled, and again sent couriers to the Mughal emperor requesting reinforcements. The Persian army then began a cavalry attack, which killed many in Khan's army. This enraged Khan's nephew, Sher Jung, who chased Khan into the Persian ranks; Khan vainly shot arrows at him. A Turkmen soldier in the Persian army from Nishapur, Khan's birthplace, recognized him; he climbed to the "howdah" (seat on an elephant), hailed Khan and asked him to surrender. Khan was taken as a prisoner to Nader Shah's camp.