Calcutta: Umesh Yadav has taken 10 wickets so far for the Kolkata Knight Riders. But the frontline bowler's expensive spells in the last two matches have been a cause of concern.

While he conceded as many as 56 runs off his four overs against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Umesh went wicketless in the previous game against Kings XI Punjab and gave away 26 runs off his three overs.

So it was not surprising when Umesh turned up at the Eden with assistant coach Simon Katich on Thursday evening. The pacer spent more than an hour at nets under the watchful eyes of the former Australian batsman.

"Umesh is bowling well at this moment. He might have gone for some runs in the last two matches, but Twenty20 is such a format where even the best bowler can get clobbered all around the park.

"I am confident that Umesh will bounce back against Gujarat Lions," Katich said. The Knights host the Suresh Raina-led Gujarat Lions in their next game on Sunday. Off-spinner Sunil Narine is nursing a finger injury in his bowling arm and missed the previous home match against the Kings XI. Katich, though, is bullish on Narine's chances of playing on Sunday.

"I am hopeful of Narine's return. Let's see how things unfold," he said.

According to Katich, the Knights have the right balance and so even if Narine fails to make the cut, it will not be a problem for the team. "We have the right balance. So I am not that bothered about who is missing and who is not," Katich said.

Katich believes IPL IX is still wide open. "All the teams have been playing well.

"But if you ask specifically, then Gujarat Lions have been the most impressive apart from KKR. Also, the Mumbai Indians are making rapid strides."

Three of the Australian players - Steve Smith, Shaun and Mitch Marsh - are ruled out of the tournament with injuries. "They have been playing too much of cricket.

"Probably that's one of the reasons why you are seeing Australian players getting injured," Katich said.