Some Indian cricketers, including players involved in the Indian Premier League, are turning to prescription weight-loss injections in pursuit of leaner physiques as fitness and physical appearance assume greater importance in the professional game, according to CricBlogger.
The trend extends beyond established players, with younger cricketers also believed to be experimenting with the drugs despite not necessarily having a medical requirement for them. It represents a new dimension to the fitness culture that has developed in Indian cricket, where physical conditioning has become an increasingly visible measure of the modern player.
Virat Kohli’s transformation raised the fitness bar
Virat Kohli’s physical transformation has helped redefine expectations around athleticism in Indian cricket. His evolution into one of the game’s most visibly conditioned players came through sustained changes to his diet and training, establishing a benchmark that has influenced perceptions of what an elite cricketer should look like.
That standard has emerged alongside an environment in which players are constantly visible through television coverage and social media. For some cricketers seeking a similarly lean appearance, weight-loss medication has now become another route alongside conventional training.
A source told CricBlogger: “This is being seen as a shortcut to weight loss, alongside regular workouts. That is why some cricketers are opting for it. Even the Bollywood stars are into it.”
No specific cricketers have been identified as users of the medications, while neither the BCCI nor the IPL has issued an official statement addressing their use among players.
Ozempic and Mounjaro enter the fitness equation
The drugs being used include GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro. These treatments are primarily associated with diabetes management, while medicines in the category can also be prescribed for weight management in appropriate circumstances.
GLP-1 is a hormone naturally produced in the gut following food consumption and plays a role in appetite, digestion and blood-sugar regulation.
A Government Doctor told CricBlogger: “GLP-1 is a natural gut hormone produced in the small intestine and colon. It is released after eating and signals the pancreas to release insulin, slows stomach digestion and communicates with the brain to create feelings of fullness.”
Ozempic contains semaglutide and is used to treat Type 2 diabetes, while Mounjaro contains tirzepatide. Both are administered through injections.
The medications can cause side effects including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal discomfort and bloating, while more serious complications can occur in some patients. Their use therefore carries medical considerations beyond their ability to support weight loss.
GLP-1 drugs become more accessible in India
The Indian market for GLP-1 medications has expanded substantially as additional treatments have become available. Mounjaro entered India in March 2025, followed in June by Wegovy, a semaglutide-based medication approved specifically for weight management.
Mounjaro costs approximately ₹13,125 (approx. US$138) per month for a 2.5 mg dose, rising to ₹25,781 (approx. US$271) per month for a 15 mg dose. Lower doses of Wegovy were launched at around ₹17,345 (approx. US$183) per month.
Access broadened further when generic semaglutide entered the Indian market in March 2026 at significantly lower prices. The reduction in cost expanded the potential availability of GLP-1 treatments beyond consumers able to afford the higher-priced branded medications.
Indian cricket’s fitness culture enters new territory
The presence of weight-loss medication within professional cricket introduces a different element into a fitness culture traditionally centred on training, nutrition and conditioning. Kohli’s transformation demonstrated what sustained changes in those areas could produce, but the availability of GLP-1 drugs has created another avenue for players focused on reducing weight and maintaining a lean physique.
The issue is particularly significant because younger cricketers are also believed to be experimenting with the medications without necessarily having a clinical need for them. With no individual players identified and no official response from the BCCI or IPL, the use of weight-loss injections among cricketers remains an emerging development within the wider evolution of fitness and appearance in Indian cricket.
