NEW DELHI: Fans could not have asked for a better start, as India began their Asia Cup title defence with a commanding nine-wicket win over UAE on Wednesday. This also marks India's first multi-nation tournament without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who retired from T20Is following the T20 World Cup triumph last year.

However, Kohli and Rohit's absence against UAE left Indian fans disappointed, with some holding up a "We Miss You" poster featuring their images - a gesture that quickly went viral on social media.

Talking about the match, left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav made UAE batters to his tunes, ending with figures of 4 for 7 in 2.1 overs. UAE lost as many eight wickets for 10 runs after being 47 for two in the ninth over.

The wrist-spinner showed no signs of rust, running through the hosts to bowl them out for just 57 in 13.1 overs. India's chase was a mere formality, completed in only 4.3 overs.

Shivam Dube (3/4 in 2 overs), whose bowling is going to be important heading into T20 World Cup, helped himself with career-best figures, polishing off the tail in style.

Abhishek Sharma smashed 30 off 16 balls, while vice-captain Shubman Gill, returning to T20Is, looked ominous with an unbeaten 20 off 9. In a twist of fate, Gill sealed the victory by dispatching childhood acquaintance Simranjeet Singh - once his sparring partner in junior cricket - for the winning runs.