Franchise, Fame, and Persuasion

The Indian Premier League (IPL) represents a paradigmatic case of how contemporary sports entertainment leverages narrative construction and symbolic capital to create sustainable commercial success while reshaping cultural practices. This study examines the IPL through the theoretical frameworks of Pierre Bourdieu's symbolic capital theory and narrative persuasion research to understand how storytelling strategies generate economic value and cultural influence. Through analysis of broadcasting data, revenue streams, and narrative elements, this research demonstrates how the IPL functions as both a reflection and maker of contemporary Indian identity. The findings reveal that the tournament's success stems from sophisticated integration of regional identity construction, celebrity persona development, and multi-platform storytelling that creates emotional engagement driving commercial performance. The study contributes to understanding how cultural products can leverage symbolic economies to achieve both commercial success and social influence in globalized entertainment markets.