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Trademark wicket falls as Dhoni clears “Captain Cool” legal hurdle
MUMBAI: From cool finishes to cool trademarks MS Dhoni just scored another off-field win. The former India skipper’s bid to own the phrase “Captain Cool” for entertainment and sports services has crossed a major legal milestone, with the Indian Trade Marks Registry greenlighting his application for publication.
Filed under Class 41 for services spanning education, entertainment, cultural activities and sports training, the application originally submitted in June 2023 faced initial resistance from the Registry. The hurdle? A prior registration for Captain Cool under the same class by Prabha Skill Sports (OPC) Private Limited, which prompted a formal objection under Section 11(1) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999.
But Dhoni’s legal team wasn’t bowled over. At a hearing conducted under Rule 115 of the Trade Marks Rules, Advocate Mansi Aggarwal of Vidhi Samhita Advocates argued that “Captain Cool” is inseparably tied to Dhoni’s identity virtually synonymous with his calm, composed demeanour on and off the cricket field.
The Registry agreed. It held that the term, in Dhoni’s case, was unlikely to cause public confusion given its entrenched association with the cricketer. With that, the objection was waived and the mark was accepted for advertisement under Section 20(1) of the Act.
The application was officially published in the Trade Marks Journal on June 16, 2025, setting off a four-month statutory opposition window. Any third party that believes Dhoni’s registration infringes their rights or could mislead the public has until mid-October to raise a formal objection.
If no opposition is filed during this period, Dhoni will secure exclusive rights to use “Captain Cool” for services including sports coaching, entertainment shows, cultural events, and more, a fitting legal badge for a man who made calm look effortless under pressure.
Whether it’s chasing trophies or trademarks, MS Dhoni continues to play the long game and win.
Brands
Emami names Dhruv Aggarwal as chief growth officer
Former Bain partner steps in as FMCG firm sharpens growth playbook
MUMBAI: Emami Limited has appointed Dhruv Aggarwal as its chief growth officer, effective 25 March 2026, following the resignation of Giriraj Bagri.
Aggarwal joins the FMCG major from Bain & Company, where he most recently served as partner. With over two decades of experience across consulting and strategy, he brings a global perspective shaped by work across India, the US, the UK and Germany.
During his tenure at Bain, Aggarwal advised consumer, retail and media companies on large-scale transformations, business turnarounds and growth strategies. He was also closely involved with India’s startup ecosystem, guiding early-stage ventures on scaling and digital expansion, while supporting private equity and venture capital firms on investment decisions.
His earlier stints include a brief role at Barclays Capital and operational experience at Jindal Power, giving him a mix of financial and industry exposure.
Academically, Aggarwal holds an MBA from Indian Institute of Management Bangalore and has also been associated with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as a PhD candidate and teaching assistant.
The appointment comes at a time when Emami Limited is looking to sharpen its growth strategy in a competitive consumer market. With a seasoned strategist now at the helm of growth, the company appears set to double down on transformation and expansion in the months ahead.
