Former Team India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni received a trademark for his ‘Captain Cool’ moniker on Monday amid efforts to strengthen his off-field brand. The confirmation came even as the World Cup-winning captain was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame earlier this month.
Details shared on the Indian government website indicate that the application was submitted online in June 2023 and received approval earlier this month. The Captain Cool trademark will pertain to “sports training, providing sports training facilities, sports coaching services”.
Dhoni has repeatedly demonstrated why he became known as ‘Captain Cool’ on the cricket pitch over the years — calming the chaos, turning pressure into opportunity, and dreams into triumphs. He guided the untested Men in Blue to their first T20 World Cup in 2007. This was followed by a historic 2011 ODI World Cup win at home and the Champions Trophy in 2013. He remains the only captain in cricket history to win all three ICC white-ball trophies.
Dhoni also redefined the role of a finisher in ODIs. His unbeaten 183* against Sri Lanka in 2005 remains the highest score by a wicketkeeper in the format. With over 10,000 ODI runs at an astonishing average of 50.57, his legacy with the bat is as impactful as it is enduring. Behind the stumps, Dhoni was a phenomenon. His lightning-fast stumpings and razor-sharp anticipation revolutionised wicketkeeping in limited-overs cricket. Overall, he boasts 17,266 international runs, 829 dismissals and 538 matches across formats for India.
Several global sports icons have moved to monetize their nicknames and athletic identities in recent years — from Michael Jordan capitalising on the Jumpman logo to Cristiano Ronaldo turning ‘CR7’ into a business empire. Closer to home, fellow cricketing legend Sourav Ganguly is often known as ‘Dada’ while actor Salman Khan became synonymous with the ‘Being Human’ brand.