For a batsman, the toughest opponent is often a hostile fast bowler, a skilful spinner or a prolonged loss of form. For former Australia opener Usman Khawaja, however, the greatest challenge of his career came from an enemy that could not be seen. At just 22, he developed rheumatoid arthritis, a painful condition that left him struggling to walk even 10 metres. Yet he went on to score 6,229 runs and 16 centuries in 88 Test matches, becoming an important figure in Australian cricket.
Khawaja has now revealed the story of that largely undisclosed struggle, which he kept private for years. Speaking on the Australian television programme Australian Story, the 39-year-old described how the illness threatened both his everyday life and his ambitions as a professional cricketer.
“I genuinely thought I was going to die,” Khawaja said, recalling the severity of his condition.
The diagnosis came in 2009, when he was playing for New South Wales and working towards his dream of representing Australia. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, particularly the lining of the joints. It can cause pain, swelling and inflammation, sometimes making ordinary movements extremely difficult.
In Khawaja’s case, the condition affected his left knee. The pain became so severe that walking short distances was a struggle. For a young cricketer whose profession depended on physical mobility, the diagnosis raised frightening questions about whether he would ever be able to compete at the highest level.
A secret kept from close teammates
Doctors and relevant cricket officials knew about Khawaja’s illness, but he chose not to tell his teammates. He feared that revealing his condition might change the way people treated him. Some might offer him special consideration, while opponents could potentially view his illness as a weakness to exploit.
As a result, even close friends and former teammates such as David Warner and Michael Hussey remained unaware of what he was experiencing.
The decision meant that Khawaja carried the burden largely in private. He continued to pursue his cricketing ambitions while managing a condition that could make even basic physical activity painful. His experience also highlights a less visible side of professional sport: athletes may appear fit and focused in public while dealing with serious health challenges away from the field.
Treatment helped him return to cricket
Determination alone was not enough to overcome the illness. Khawaja required regular medication and injections to manage his symptoms and gradually regain his ability to function normally.
About six months after his diagnosis, he was able to return to the cricket field. Looking back, he has emphasised how essential the treatment was to his recovery.
“Without that medication, I would never have played cricket again. I would not even have returned to a normal life,” he said.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term condition, and its effects vary from person to person. Although appropriate treatment can help manage inflammation and preserve mobility, patients may require ongoing medical care. Khawaja’s experience demonstrates the importance of treatment in allowing people with chronic illnesses to pursue their professional and personal goals.
His return to cricket marked the beginning of a career that would bring both setbacks and significant achievements.
From a difficult diagnosis to the international stage
Khawaja made his Test debut against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 2011. Earning a place in Australia’s national side fulfilled a long-held ambition, but establishing himself in the team was not straightforward.
He was dropped from the side on several occasions, faced criticism and had to work his way back into contention. Each setback tested his resolve, but he continued to rebuild his career and demonstrate his ability with the bat.
One of the defining moments of his resurgence came during the 2021–22 Ashes series. Returning to the Test side for the Sydney Test, Khawaja scored a century in each innings. The performance was a striking reminder of his talent and resilience, placing him back in the spotlight after a period of uncertainty.
His career subsequently reached its conclusion at the same venue. In January 2026, Khawaja played the fifth Ashes Test against England in Sydney before bringing his international career to an end.
His final record stood at 88 Test appearances, 6,229 runs and 16 centuries. Those figures reflect years of performance at the highest level, but they do not reveal the medication, injections, physical discomfort and uncertainty that accompanied his journey.
An autobiography titled ‘Sabr’
Following his retirement, Khawaja has begun sharing more details of his personal experiences. His forthcoming autobiography, titled Sabr, is expected to offer further insight into his life and cricket career.
Sabr is an Arabic word meaning patience. The title carries particular significance given the challenges Khawaja faced from a young age, including the uncertainty surrounding his health and the repeated demands of international cricket.
For years, his illness remained a private matter, known only to a limited circle of people involved in his treatment and career. By speaking publicly about it now, he has offered supporters a different perspective on the person behind the statistics.
His account also challenges the assumption that professional athletes are immune to serious health problems simply because they compete at an elite level. Physical ability, discipline and determination are essential in sport, but medical support can be equally important when an athlete is managing a chronic condition.
A message of hope for others
Khawaja hopes that sharing his experience will encourage people living with autoimmune diseases and other long-term health conditions. He believes his career can demonstrate that a serious diagnosis does not necessarily mean the end of a person’s ambitions.
“If someone can play professional cricket at the highest level with rheumatoid arthritis, then I think many other people can achieve a great deal too,” he said.
His message extends beyond cricket. People living with chronic illnesses often face uncertainty about their future, alongside the physical effects of their conditions. Hearing about someone who continued to pursue demanding professional goals while receiving treatment may offer encouragement, although individual experiences and medical needs differ.
Khawaja’s story also serves as a reminder that sporting achievements rarely tell the whole story. Statistics record runs, centuries and appearances, but they cannot measure every obstacle a player has overcome away from the pitch.
His 16 Test centuries will remain part of Australia’s cricketing record. Yet one of the most significant victories of his life came long before many of those runs were scored, when he was a young man struggling to walk and uncertain whether he would ever play again.
At 22, Khawaja faced a formidable opponent that no bowler could represent and no scoreboard could record: rheumatoid arthritis.
His eventual return to cricket, followed by years of achievement at the highest level, stands as a testament to perseverance, medical treatment and the determination to keep pursuing a dream despite the odds.
