Usman Khawaja reveals arthritis battle he hid throughout career: Thought I would die

Usman Khawaja has revealed that he secretly battled rheumatoid arthritis throughout his international cricket career, after being diagnosed at 22 and fearing he might never play again. The former Australia opener managed the condition with medication, went on to score over 6,000 Test runs and retired from international cricket in January 2026.

In Short

• He was diagnosed at 22 while playing for New South Wales during the 2009 off-season
• Severe pain in his left knee left him fearing for his life and cricket career
• Khawaja scored 6,229 runs, including 16 centuries, in 88 Tests

Usman Khawaja has revealed that he secretly battled rheumatoid arthritis throughout his international cricket career, disclosing the potentially debilitating condition only after retiring from international cricket in January 2026. The former Australia opener was diagnosed at just 22, when he was beginning to establish himself in professional cricket with New South Wales.

The condition left Khawaja struggling with severe pain in his left knee, threatening to derail his cricketing ambitions before his international career had even begun. Even close friends, including childhood cricket companion David Warner and former Australia teammate Michael Hussey, were unaware of his diagnosis.

Khawaja has now opened up about his experience on Australian Story, hoping his journey will inspire others living with autoimmune diseases.

"I genuinely thought I was going to die," Khawaja said. "I went from this athlete who was playing professional cricket to not being able to walk 10 metres to the bathroom."

"If a person can play at the top level as a professional cricketer with rheumatoid arthritis, then I think a lot of other people can achieve a lot, too," he added.

Khawaja also explained how medication helped him return to the sport after his diagnosis. "Without that drug," he said, "I would never have played cricket ever again or even lived a normal life again."

A SECRET KEPT FOR YEARS

Khawaja was diagnosed during the 2009 off-season, when he was playing for New South Wales. He informed medical professionals, coaches and cricket administrators about his condition but chose not to tell his teammates.

The left-handed batter wanted to avoid receiving special treatment and feared that opponents or critics could use his illness against him. Keeping the diagnosis private meant that even those closest to him in the dressing room did not know about the health battle he was managing.

Regular injections of medication eventually helped him return to the crease approximately six months after his diagnosis. The treatment proved crucial, allowing him to continue pursuing his dream of representing Australia despite the challenges posed by the disease.

Through his forthcoming autobiography, Sabr, Khawaja hopes to encourage people living with chronic illnesses to continue pursuing their ambitions. His revelation also offers a glimpse into the personal challenges behind a career that appeared successful on the field.

HOW KHAWAJA FOUGHT BACK

Khawaja's international journey began in January 2011, when he made his Test debut against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He became the first Pakistan-born player to represent Australia in Test cricket and went on to build a career marked by resilience and significant achievements.

Despite being dropped from the Australian Test side on multiple occasions, Khawaja repeatedly fought his way back into the team. One of his most memorable comebacks came during the 2021-22 Ashes, when he scored centuries in both innings of the Sydney Test. He later became a key member of Australia's top order, finishing as one of the country's most accomplished batters.

Khawaja finished his Test career with 6,229 runs, including 16 centuries, in 88 matches. He retired from international cricket after Australia's fifth Ashes Test against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 2026.

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