New Delhi: After England thrashed India in the 3rd Test match on Day 4 by an innings and 242 runs on 13 August 2011, M.S. Dhoni, in a post-match interview with sports show host Jatin Sapru, had a smile plastered on his face. Responding to whether the defeat would be “pinching” the team, he said, “A defeat is a defeat, what is more important is the realisation that the team could not play to the sort of potential they embodied”.
Not a deflection, his comment showed reflection, something that has made Dhoni what he is. He first led the Indian cricket team in 2007, the year Team India won its first T20 World Cup. In 2012, it took an “unassailable” 2-0 lead to clinch a three-match Test series against the West Indies. In 2013, the team brought home the Champions Trophy.
All these wins were a testament to Dhoni’s calm temperament and demeanour, as well as his ability to stand firm in crunch situations. Unfazed and almost stoic under pressure, M.S. Dhoni became the emotional anchor of the Indian cricket team, with his fans fondly naming him ‘Captain Cool’ to describe his level-headed leadership.
Last month, Dhoni applied to trademark his nickname, claiming exclusive rights to ‘Captain Cool’. He reportedly wants to use the name in sports training services, sports training facilities, and sports coaching services.
According to the Trade Marks Registry portal, Dhoni’s application was accepted and advertised. The nickname’s publication in the official Trade Marks Journal was on 16 June.
Another company, Prabha Skill Sport (OPC) Pvt. Ltd., had also filed an application for the trademark of ‘Captain Cool’, PTI reported.
However, Dhoni’s team argued that the name’s use by his fans and the media over the years had established its legacy of honing the public identity of the cricketer.
Operating under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks maintains the Trade Marks Registry portal.
The office accepted the claim made by Dhoni’s team, stating that ‘Captain Cool’ was more than a catchy tag and that it remains a component of Dhoni’s commercial image. Dhoni, the office agreed, had a long history with the name as cricket ‘stans’ worldwide are familiar with it.
Later, in a statement, Mansi Aggarwal, Dhoni’s lawyer, remarked, “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.”
Meanwhile, the legend of ‘Captain Cool’ continues to expand today.
Last month, the ICC Hall of Fame inducted Dhoni, after which ‘Captain Cool’ issued a statement: “It is an honour to be named in the ICC Hall of Fame, which recognises the contributions of cricketers across generations and from all over the world.”
Having retired from ODI and Test matches in 2014 and 2020, respectively, Dhoni is also preparing to return to his 19th T20 season at 44.
Sana Felix is an intern with ThePrint
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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