Former India cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has cleared the first regulatory hurdle in securing exclusive rights to the sobriquet “Captain Cool”. According to the Trade Marks Registry, the application—filed online on 5 June—was accepted and published in the official journal on 16 June, opening a four-month window for any objections. Dhoni is seeking to use the mark for sports training, coaching services and related facilities, laying the groundwork for potential academies and commercial ventures built around the brand that fans have long associated with his calm leadership style. If no challenges are filed, the registration will give the 44-year-old the same brand protection already enjoyed by athletes such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Jordan, underscoring the growing importance of personality rights in Indian intellectual-property law.