Usman Khawaja says he battled rheumatoid arthritis throughout his career

26 Oct 2026, 01:48 pm IST|
Usman Khawaja says he battled rheumatoid arthritis throughout his career
Image source

Former Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja revealed he secretly battled rheumatoid arthritis throughout his career, saying "I genuinely thought I was going to die" after being diagnosed at 22.

Medication allowed him to return to playing and he compiled 6,229 Test runs and 16 centuries.

He retired in January 2026 and hopes sharing his experience will inspire others living with chronic illnesses.

Usman KhawajaRheumatoid ArthritisTestAustraliaJanuary 2026