MS Dhoni aka Captain Cool. (image-X/Abhinav_hariom)

Former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has officially secured the trademark rights to the moniker ‘Captain Cool’, a title that fans and the media have affectionately used for over a decade to describe his calm and composed leadership on the field. 

The Trade Marks Registry has accepted and advertised Dhoni’s trademark application for ‘Captain Cool’, paving the way for him to use the name exclusively for sports training, coaching services, and training centres. The development was confirmed with the mark’s publication in the official Trade Marks Journal on June 16, 2025. 

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Dhoni’s lawyer, Mansi Aggarwal, confirmed the approval and said, “Delighted to share a recent development from the field of trademark law that underscores the evolving role of personality rights and acquired distinctiveness in overcoming relative grounds for refusal.”

Dhoni’s legal team faced an early hurdle when the application was initially opposed under Section 11(1) of the Trade Marks Act. The Registry had flagged a possible conflict due to the existence of similar-sounding trademarks already on record. However, Dhoni’s lawyers successfully argued that ‘Captain Cool’ has become synonymous with the cricketer himself, acquiring a distinctive secondary meaning in the public consciousness. 

Dhoni’s lawyer explained that the phrase would be used for sports and entertainment services, and so, confusion with any other mark in this category was unlikely. 

The Registry ultimately sided with Dhoni’s position, agreeing that the phrase was not just a nickname, but a public identity built over years of association with Dhoni’s leadership, and was well-known among cricket fans.

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Known for his calm demeanour and unshakeable leadership, Dhoni has remained a beloved figure even after his retirement from international cricket in 2020. His identity as Captain Cool was forged during his tenure as India’s most successful captain, notably during the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, and 2013 Champions Trophy.