The New Zealander became just the third player in Test history to claim all 10 wickets in an innings, after England's Jim Laker and Indian Anil Kumble.

"Personally I think one of the greatest cricketing days in my life and it will probably always be," Patel said following the performance in Mumbai, the city of his birth.

Patel is the second New Zealander to win the men's prize for a month in 2021, following Devon Conway's success in June.

Patel was nominated for the accolade alongside India's Mayank Agarwal and Mitchell Starc of Australia.

Agarwal was shortlisted after excelling in India's Tests against New Zealand and South Africa.

Across both games, Agarwal scored 276 runs at an average of 69.00 including a century.

Against New Zealand, Agarwal was named player of the match as he scored 150 and 62 in the two innings.

Starc played a vital role with both bat and ball as Australia retained the Ashes against England with two matches to spare.

In his three games last month, the 31-year-old picked up 14 wickets at an average of 19.64 and scored 117 runs, averaging 58.50.

There was no award in the women's category for December due to no international matches being played.