From pitch to battlefield: MS Dhoni reveals his mystical avatar

MS Dhoni's graphic novel debut takes him away from the cricket pitch and onto the battlefield. The former Indian captain has debuted his avatar in Atharva: The Origin, and it's an entirely different look for the cricketer.

According to The Tribune India, Ramesh Thamilmani wrote the graphic novel Atharva: The Origin, while Vincent Adaikalaraj and Ashok Manor produced the series. 

Virzu Studios has backed the project. It was created over several years by a team of artists to recreate the novel's "mystical world of Atharva" and includes over 150 highly realistic visuals.

Dhoni disclosed his avatar in a graphic novel's motion poster on Facebook. "Happy to announce my new Avatar…..Atharva."

On a battlefield, the video depicts a gritty long-haired Dhoni battling some evil beings. It's a brand-new look that got Indian social media users quite excited.

Atharva: The Origin was announced in 2020 as "an adaptation of an unpublished book," according to India Today.

"The book is a mythological sci-fi which explores the journey of a mysterious Aghori who has been captured at a high-tech facility," Sakshi Dhoni, the former skipper's wife, was quoted by Dawn.