Over the years, 'Captain Cool' has become more than just a catchy title for former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
The 2011 World Cup-winning skipper's calm and composed demeanour under any given situation during matches earned him the much-acclaimed title, which still holds as the veteran wicketkeeper continues to exude his cool nature on the field, albeit only in the IPL these days.
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From India's first T20 World Cup title in 2007 to the Champions Trophy in 2013, there have been multiple examples where Dhoni showcased his calmness in order to pull off victories for India in crunch situations.
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Why was MS Dhoni known as Captain Cool?
Apart from his ability to keep calm and hold his composure at crucial junctures of a game, he rarely showed signs of frustration or anger even during adverse situations as a captain, which earned him the moniker of 'Captain Cool'.
For instance, Dhoni's decision to hand a rookie bowler like Joginder Sharma the responsibility to bowl the final over of a tense India-Pakistan final in the T20 World Cup 2007 proved to be a masterstroke as he got Misbah-ul-Haq out and won the trophy for the country.
From Dhoni's match-winning six against Sri Lanka in the ODI World Cup Final in 2011 to handing Ravichandran Ashwin the task of defending 15 runs in the last over against England in the Champions Trophy final in 2013, there have been numerous instances where Dhoni has time and again justified his title.
MS Dhoni applies for the trademark of 'Captain Cool' title
As per reports, MS Dhoni has recently applied for the trademark of his long-standing nickname 'Captain Cool'. He wants the exclusive rights to the title to use in sports training, coaching services, and training centres.
MS Dhoni has applied for Word Mark - Captain Cool 🔥
— WhistlePodu Army ® - CSK Fan Club (@CSKFansOfficial) June 30, 2025
Trademark Class 41 covers services related to education, training, entertainment, sporting & cultural activities.
It’s applied only for Sports Training, Sports Training facilities and sports coaching services. pic.twitter.com/s55CwkbycL
The application has now been accepted and advertised, as per the Trade Marks Registry Portal. The trademark achieved publication in the official trademark journal on June 16, 2025.
"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," said Dhoni's lawyer, Mansi Aggarwal.
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However, she revealed that their journey had a lot of hurdles. Earlier, an objection was raised under Section 11(1) of the Trade Marks Act due to its similarity with another mark record.
Dhoni's legal team argued that the 'Captain Cool' title has always been associated with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) icon, since his playing days. Since it would be used for sports and entertainment services only, confusion would be highly unlikely.
Later, the Registry agreed on the title's role in Dhoni's commercial image and gave their approval. This again goes on to show how public figures can use the power of unique branding to protect the image of their business.