V. Somani theorized that Bappa was a part of the anti-Arab confederacy formed by the Pratihara ruler Nagabhata I. Somani also speculates that Bappa Rawal might have fought on the Pratihara side in their defence against the Rashtrakuta invasions.Shyam Manohar Mishra of Lucknow University theorized that Bappa Rawal was originally a vassal of the Mori ruler Manuraja.