MS Dhoni One Step Closer to Owning the 'Captain Cool' Title

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is on the verge of officially owning the nickname that’s followed him for years — Captain Cool. Known for his calm head under pressure, both fans and media have long used the term to describe Dhoni’s composed presence on the cricket field. Now, the former India captain has taken a big legal step to make the title legally his.

According to records from Intellectual Property India, Dhoni applied for the trademark ‘Captain Cool’ on June 5, 2023, under Class 41 — a category that covers sports training, coaching services, and fitness-related activities. His application has now reached the “Accepted and Advertised” stage. That means it’s passed its initial checks and has been published in the official trademark journal. 

This is a key phase in the process. It gives others a short window to challenge the application before it’s fully approved. If no one steps forward with an objection, Dhoni will officially have exclusive rights to the term. That could open doors for him to launch sports academies, training facilities, or fitness ventures under the ‘Captain Cool’ brand.  

However, the path to getting this far wasn’t without hurdles. It turns out that a company named Prabha Skill Sports (OPC) Private Limited had previously registered the same phrase. Their application (No. 5048887), also filed under Class 41, hit a snag — its status now shows “Rectification Filed,” which suggests legal objections were raised. Dhoni’s camp was quick to act, filing a rectification petition claiming the company was trying to cash in on his fame and reputation. “This is a case of bad faith registration on the part of the company, aimed at deceiving the public and unlawfully enriching themselves by trading on the name of a well-known individual,” Dhoni stated in the petition. 

After at least four rounds of hearings, the authorities sided with Dhoni and cleared the way for his trademark to move forward. While this legal battle was unfolding, Dhoni was also making headlines on the field. He returned to captain Chennai Super Kings midway through IPL 2025 after Ruturaj Gaikwad’s injury, although the season didn’t go to plan — CSK finished last for the first time in their history. 

Despite the rough patch on the pitch, there was a moment of personal glory. Earlier this month, Dhoni was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. “To have your name remembered alongside such all-time greats is a wonderful feeling. It is something that I will cherish forever,” he said. Now, if all goes well, Dhoni will soon be the legal owner of a nickname that cricket fans have used for years — and it couldn’t be more fitting.