Johannesburg, May 23: Midway through the press conference here on Friday, Adam Gilchrist pulled out a piece of paper and displayed what he had predicted when he left the team hotel. The note said — ‘We will win by six wickets’. It was in reference to the Deccan Chargers’ smashing six-wicket victory over tournament favourites Delhi Daredevils which he had set up with a blistering 35-ball 85.

Gilchrist insisted that this was the first and last time he would try and predict a game. His buccaneering innings had it all and it was such a powerful statement that it all but wiped out what had gone before in the tournament.

Every moment of the knock was worth savouring and let there not be a minute wasted in classifying the effort as a T20 classic. It was so pure that it stands beyond qualification.

In three World Cup finals, Gilchrist has annihilated the opponents every time. Hence a stand-out knock on the big stage is only second nature for Gilchrist but he picked the knock against Delhi as his best in T20s.

"I don’t really compare the achievements saying that this is more special than the other. But I think it was my best knock in Twenty20. I scored a hundred last year against Mumbai Indians but it wasn’t the semi-final."

Gilchrist did not hide his disappointment at missing a hundred. He was also philosophical, adding there were a few things that he had still not learnt after 15 years of international cricket.

The send off Herschelle Gibbs received from Ashish Nehra was not in keeping with the spirit of the game and Gilchrist did not like it one, bit but said that the decision was best left to the match referee.

Nehra reportedly was severely reprimanded. Till that point in the second over Gilchrist was treating the ball only on merit but after the incident there was a certain vengeance in stroke play, though he did not agree to that on record.

The best compliment came from Virender Sehwag, who said when someone played like that, there is little a captain could do but stand back and admire the quality. Gilchrist returned the compliment saying "There have been many occasion where he has done it to the opposing captain. Like in Hyderabad last year, even though I was not captain there was little I could have done if I was."

To beat the tournament favourites was a satisfying outing for the Chargers. "We had not beaten Delhi in the tournament so far (from 2008). So, it is good to get the monkey off our back," said Gilchrist.

The crowd missed a classic contest between Gilchrist and Glenn McGrath and the Chargers skipper was was surprised that his countryman did not get to bowl a ball in the tournament.

"It was surprising that he did not get a chance to bowl in the tournament. Delhi have been at the top and the other teams were chasing them. Their overseas players have served them really well so McGrath didn’t get an opportunity but that does not mean that they needed him to play today."

Having been one of the more consistent performers at IPL-2, Gilchrist has been forced to answer questions on his plans to return to international cricket. Dismissing such thoughts, he said: "To play at that level you have to be at your optimum best for 10 months and that is not possible. I have enjoyed my days as international cricketer. But I wouldn’t suggest young guys to retire and play IPL."