Usman Khawaja reveals secret battle with Rheumatoid Arthritis, says 'I genuinely thought I was going to die'

Former Australia opener Usman Khawaja has revealed that he battled rheumatoid arthritis for much of his international cricket career, keeping the condition a secret from his teammates for years. The 39-year-old, who represented Australia in 88 Test matches, was diagnosed with the potentially debilitating disease at the age of 22.

Khawaja opened up about his health struggles months after bringing his international career to an end. Speaking on Australian Story, he recalled the uncertainty and fear he experienced when doctors initially struggled to identify the cause of the pain in his left knee. "I genuinely thought I was going to die. I went from this athlete who was playing professional cricket to not being able to walk 10 metres to the bathroom," Khawaja said, as reported by ABC Sport.

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Usman Khawaja kept Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis a secret

Khawaja revealed that even close friends and former teammates David Warner and Michael Hussey were unaware of his condition. While the medical and coaching staff, along with administrators, knew about his illness, the former opener chose not to disclose it to his teammates.

He explained that he did not want to receive special treatment or risk his medical condition being used against him during his cricketing career.

The diagnosis had initially left Khawaja fearing that his dream of playing professional cricket might come to an end before it had properly begun. However, he continued to play at the highest level while managing the condition.

Usman Khawaja credits medication for cricket career

The former Australian opener also revealed that regular injections of a medication have played a crucial role in managing his rheumatoid arthritis. He described the drug as “a godsend” and credited it with allowing him to continue playing cricket and lead a normal life. "Without that drug. I would never have played cricket ever again or even lived a normal life again," Khawaja said.

He hopes that sharing his experience will encourage others living with autoimmune diseases and show them that the condition does not necessarily have to prevent them from pursuing their ambitions. "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 said.

Khawaja has also detailed his battle with the disease in his forthcoming autobiography, Sabr.

Usman Khawaja's Australia career in numbers

Khawaja scored 6,229 international runs for Australia, including 16 centuries. Born in Pakistan, he became the first Pakistan-born player to represent Australia.

His career also featured several comebacks after being dropped from the team. One of his most memorable performances came during the Sydney Ashes Test in January 2022, when he scored 137 and an unbeaten 101 against England at the age of 35.