Ooscota, the location of the battle, is the modern Hoskote, Bangalore Rural district, Karnataka, India.

The British under Colonel Donald Campbell, and the Maratha Empire forces under Murari Rao Ghorpade were under march, and they encamped near Ooscata.

The British contingent invited the Maratha to encamp within their defensive lines, but due to the illness of Mohammed Ali, the Nawab of Arcot, Rao declined, and they threw up their own picket a short distance away.

Rao instructed his cavalry to remain unmounted, so that his forces could bring down any mounted troops; knowing them to be enemy.

In the chaos Rao's state elephant broke loose, and wielding its chain as a weapon, threw back the cavalry in the face of the supporting infantry.