Usman Khawaja reveals career-long battle with arthritis: I thought I was going to die

Usman Khawaja has revealed that he secretly battled rheumatoid arthritis throughout his international cricket career, only revealing the potentially debilitating condition after he retired from international cricket in January 2026. The former Australian opener was diagnosed at just 22 when he was starting to make his mark in professional cricket in New South Wales.

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

Khawaja has now opened up about his experiences on Australian Story and hopes his journey will inspire others living with autoimmune diseases.

“I really thought I was going to die,” Khawaja said. “I went from this athlete playing professional cricket to not being able to walk 10 meters to the toilet.”

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

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

Kept a SECRET FOR YEARS

Khawaja was diagnosed in the 2009 off-season while playing for New South Wales. He informed doctors, coaches and cricket administrators about his condition but chose not to tell his teammates.

The left-handed batsman wanted to avoid special treatment and feared that his illness could be used against him by opponents or critics. Keeping the diagnosis a secret meant that even those closest to him in the dressing room were unaware of the health battle he was managing.

Regular drug injections eventually helped him return to the fold approximately six months after his diagnosis. Treatment proved crucial, allowing him to pursue his dream of representing Australia despite the challenges the disease presented.

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

HOW KHAWAJA FIGHTED

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 Pakistani-born player to represent Australia in Test cricket and went on to build a career marked by resilience and notable achievements.

Despite being dropped from the Australian Test side on several 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 successful batsmen.

Khawaja ended 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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