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‘I genuinely thought I was going to die’ – Usman Khawaja reveals secret battle with rheumatoid arthritis during career

The Australian Test star managed a potentially crippling autoimmune disease throughout his 88-match international career, keeping the diagnosis secret from age 22 until after retiring.

By CricTracker Staff · Cric Tracker

Published: Sunday, 25 October 2026 at 8:54 AM

Key Things to Know

Usman Khawaja revealed he secretly played his entire 88-match Test career with rheumatoid arthritis.
Khawaja was diagnosed at age 22 but hid the condition from teammates to avoid special treatment.
Regular medication injections allowed Khawaja to manage the autoimmune disease and continue his career.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Former Australian batter Usman Khawaja has revealed he secretly managed rheumatoid arthritis throughout his 88-match international cricket career. First diagnosed at age 22 while playing for New South Wales, Khawaja experienced severe knee pain that initially left him struggling to walk. He kept his diagnosis hidden from teammates until after his retirement following Australia's Ashes victory in January.

Khawaja managed the autoimmune disease with regular medication injections, which enabled him to continue playing and score 6,229 Test runs. Teammates including David Warner and Michael Hussey were unaware of his condition. Khawaja is now sharing details of his health journey in his upcoming autobiography, Sabr.

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